#trans joy is a revolution

[ben-learns-smth]

a list of happy things I trans nonbinary edition (original + updated version)

the first time someone uses they/them for me, after I tell them

tiny trans pin on a stranger’s bag

every time someone uses my chosen name

“young man can you reach the top shelf for me?”

golden by zella day

taking care of myself because I like who I’m becoming (do your stretches)

“our youngest child”

cloud 9 by beach bunny ft. tegan & sara

“you’re not trying too hard, you’re trying what fits”

button up shirts (bonus points for binder underneath)

reading about moments of trans joy

.

every time a friend creates a new nickname (or nicholasname)

“btw what are your pronouns?”

growing pains by freddie lewis

my name on my student ID

recognising myself in the way someone else lives their truth

soft dark hair on legs, arms, upper lip, chest

reading books I see myself in

every time my voice cracks a bit, every time it feels a bit lower

“we love you and we’ll love who you’ll become”

as per usual feel free to add your own list of happy things or tag me if you make a post about it! doesn’t have to be gender related, can just be you related or general joy

[the-biggest-fox]

Just put a fake mustache on with makeup and I haven’t felt this hot and had this much gender euphoria in so long I had forgotten. No wonder my mom made me question it all again. I haven’t felt like an actual man in so long. Of coarse I’m trans. Because this feels so correct. It feels so right.

[dipperdesperado]

joy is our solarpunk secret sauce

Something that I feel like is sorely missing from activist spaces and thinking about the future is joy. It seems obvious when you really examine it, but if we see ourselves as imagining the solarpunk futures that we want to live in, but we don’t bring emotion into that conception, the pictures we create will ring hollow. I see joy as an important component of liberatory theory more broadly, so doing joyful things is a form of praxis to me. After all, to be joyful and aware of the injustices of the world at the same time is revolutionary.

Focusing on joy has to be an integral part of how we conceive of doing solarpunk stuff in real life. Joy is what will keep us going in our journey to build community-driven innovations and creative-driven lives. This will also bring more people into the movement, since joy is enticing, much more so than doomerism or pessimism. This is more inclusive and can create a snowball effect towards change.

Joy in my conception comes from fun, pleasure, and play. Having a sense of security, assuredness, and community feed into the ability for these emotions to thrive. This has an inherent decolonial thrust to it since joy stands at odds with mechanistic ideas of productivity and efficiency. It’s very difficult to increase profits exponentially without the inverse result happening to joy. This shift in focus allows our priorities to shift to a more harmonious relationship with ourselves, each other, and the rest of nature.

How do we incorporate joy into our movements?

Creativity is a latent fire within us that just needs the right environment to shine. Whether that’s through art, writing, or performance, this can be a fun and cathartic way to create engaging spaces and experiences for our movements. A solarpunk community can create a public art installation relating to a solarpunk idea like upcycling that celebrates the community’s cultural diversity and plurality. Make them interactive and engaging, have some different events going on a la a market or festival, music playing in the background and you can create the space for people to learn more about their possibilities for liberation without even really realizing it.

Community is implicitly a fundamental part of joy. Creating space for communities to form gives joy the room to grow. Connecting with the earth through community gardens, experimenting and iterating through ideas in co-working spaces, or connecting with your neighbors at a potluck can lead to good vibes and memories, showing us that another world is possible, and that we have the ingredients we need to create it. We also want to make sure these spaces are truly inclusive and accessible so that people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can live in concert with the liberation movement.

Celebrating success can also be a way to highlight joy in our movements. It doesn’t matter how “big ” or “small” the success is. Sometimes, throwing a party over a tiny win can re-energize folks and get them excited to continue participating. Throwing a party, shouting people out on socials (depending on how it relates to security culture), and sharing stories can make a hopeful and inspiring energy. Hope is what encourages people to continue striving for a better future.

Humor might be one of my favorite concepts when it comes to thinking about joy. Humor might seem like a weird thing to think about as a form of praxis. However, I propose this; we live in a surreal world! The manifestations of the systems we see don’t match most of the things many of the supporters of these systems chirp about. I mean, meritocracy isn’t real, economic mobility isn’t real, and discrimination is rampant. There’s something deeply sad and ironically funny about that. But that’s a like low-hanging fruit (but deeply resonant) form of humor about collapse. Humor can also be a way to lift spirits and lighten moods through more positive jokes, sharing memes, wholesome acts, and a willingness to be childlike in a sense of possibility.

Having joy as an integral component of our world-changing work is huge to me, so it makes me sad that I don’t feel like many folks talk about it nearly as much. I think that what stalls movements out and keeps people from feeling welcome in them (besides systemic oppression, don’t wanna diminish that) is how it’s framed as hard work that we have to do to save the world. And on one hand, that is true, but on the other hand, that doesn’t mean it has to feel like work all the time. Like, if we want to build a world where we can leisure and play, but our construction plans are full of hardship and toil, we won’t be able to realize our ends. Having an inviting movement allows more people to come in and have a pathway to understanding all the important tough truths. Hope comes from joy, and we need hope to create the future that we want to see.

[saintjosie]

tw suicide, transphobia

i know theres a lot of terrible transphobia going on in the world but i actively try not to share disheartening news because there’s a lot of other people out there doing the hard work to get the news out. instead i make it my goal to share trans joy and positivity because our joy is revolution.

but i feel this one needs to be shared.

link to the tweet: https://twitter.com/ErinInTheMorn/status/1635088350670630912 link to the twitlonger: https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1ss8nph

WARNING: the note is incredibly triggering and very difficult to read.

eden committed suicide after being returned to an extremely religious family in saudi arabia and then forced to detransition. like so many of us who choose not to transition or choose to detransition, eden gave up. taking away our access to transition care is deadly. forcing us to detransition is genocide. fear strips us of our identity, our humanity, our hope.

as we lose our rights, we will lose more of our community. and i am not prepared for the emotional toll this will take. i shouldnt have to be. none of us should. remember eden.

[waksworldrebooted]

MTV Era Motorcity Masterpost (+ NEVER BEFORE SEEN INFORMATION)

In 2000, Chris Prynoski pitched a cartoon called Motorcity.

He made a card and a website promoting the show, which wouldn't see the light of day until the Walt Disney Company got their hands on it.

THE SETUP

"MotorCity is The Dukes of Hazzard meets Akira. It's American Graffiti and Big Daddy Roth rumbling with 8 cylinders into the world of Sci-Fi. It's the heart of American car culture driven to the next level."

 "Sex, cars, Rock & Roll, and the freedom to wrap your ride around a tree trunk goin' 160."

"In the near future, concerns over global warming, pollution, and the ever-worsening problem of gridlock in America’s major cities brings about the Anti-Combustion Acts of 2009." "These laws banned the use of any vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. At first there was a lot of vocal opposition. But the so-called "Digital Revolution" as well as the advent of amazing new transportation technologies neatly filled the void, and the benefits of an improved environment along with a safer, faster and more efficient means of getting from point A to B managed to win even the staunchest opponents over. The oil companies and car manufacturers were forced to shut down under the political and economic pressures." "And a new era was born. Cleaner, faster and safer. America’s cities became modern utopias where its citizens could travel without fear or hazard in comfortable flying boxes affectionately known as "living rooms", and Detroit (The Renaissance City), became the finest example of this new policy. But with all of this wondrous innovation, something was lost. Something inherent in the soul of old America, something called freedom. The freedom to go anywhere. Anyhow. As fast, or as slow as you want. The freedom to speed. And the freedom to die." "This is where our characters come in. A few radicals realized that although you might never die in the "living rooms" , you’ll never really live in them either. So in the "Live fast and die young" mind-set, they fight the law. Scavenging parts and gas from Detroit’s massive underground, Mike Chilton and his gang, as well as a few others are trying to recapture some of what it meant to risk all for the freedom of speed."

THE CHARACTERS

Mike Chilton: A young talent on the illegal race circuit. Mike's right leg is always twitching and itching to jam a gas pedal to the floorboards, and his foot is as lead as they come. He's got gasoline surging through his veins and a 450 horsepower soul. His heart burns to drive and it's all he can do to keep moving faster and faster so that the flames don't consume him. He might be a gangly 19-year-old kid, but his ride has as much muscle as he'll ever need and he knows how to use it.

Vehicle of choice: Retrofitted '77 Trans Am

Julie Capulsky: An Anthropology student with a quick mind and a quicker pulse. She's a city girl with a passion for adventure who's secretly writing a paper on the underground "Burner" culture. As she gets to know Mike and his crew, she feels the freedom of the road and learns the power of a rumbling big block at her command. She is torn between the high performance life of a Gearhead and the love of her father who has sworn to take them down.

Vehicle of Choice: Any Hot Rod that'll give her a ride.

Lt. Capulsky: Julie's Dad and head of Detroit's Anti-Combustion Enforcement Division. He's old enough to remember when the highways were the arteries of America and the drivers were its blood. He rode with Fast Eddy in his youth and understands the joy of inhaling the fumes of burning rubber as the hot road turns his tires to black jelly. He's forced to deal with enforcing a law he's not sure he believes in. But that doesn't stop him from holding the record for the most illegal auto busts in the state of Michigan.

Vehicle of choice: Police "Living Room"

Ed Pirelli: (Fast Eddy) The old-timer who serves as Mike and the crew's link to the past, as well as their guide for the future. A wrecked hulk of a man, Eddy lived in a time when America was the land of wide-open spaces, and you had the liberty to go where, when and how you wanted to travel. You had the freedom to live, and the freedom to die. None of those damn boxes.

Vehicle of choice: Retrofitted '58 Chevy Roadster

Greg Raden: This young cop looks up to Lt. Capulsky as his ultimate hero. Born after the Anti-Combustion Act, He doesn't understand the rush of a vibrating steering wheel responding to every reflex of your sweaty palms. He wants nothing more than to grind the gears of the "Burners" to a halt.

Vehicle of choice: Police "Living Room"

Dave Earnhardt: Mike's worthy rival on the race circuit. He's a speed demon who stops at nothing to win. He might be Mike's worst enemy on the tar, but he'd take a speeding bullet for him off the track.

Vehicle of choice: Retrofitted '69 Camaro RS

Holly Biscayne: A fellow "Burner" who has a thing for Mike. She's jealous and suspicious of Julie's big city motives. She wants to make sure that when the checkered flag waves, she'll be on top.

Vehicle of choice: Retrofitted '05 Jaguar convertible

Brute Conklin: The bastard child of internal combustion and computer technology. This crafty gearhead beats "The Man" at his own game with a never-ending digital assault on the computers that control the Global Satellite System.

Vehicle of choice: Chopped 98' Harley Pan-head

Claire Constance: This ice queen might look like a hot number, but she's really a wet blanket who tries to smother her best friend Julie's fire. She can't understand what's with risking your life in the "sewers" when you can be shopping in style in the safety and comfort of your own clean home.

Vehicle of choice: None if she can help it

Promo card released in 2000

Concept art made shortly after the trailer (ones that closely resemble the final show)

From left to right: Luv (Dutch), Holly Biscayne, Chuck, Mike Chilton, Julie Kapulsky, Claire Constance, Texas, Greg Raden (Tooley), Lt Kapulsky (Abraham Kane), and The Mayor of Detroit

Pitch Trailer

[j-femmescoli]

books i read in 2023

my goal was to read a book a week and while the timeline wasn't perfectly even, i did manage to get it to add up (and then some!). this year i focused on religion and philosophy as well as classics (of which im counting both as traditional "ancient or pre-modern famous and outstanding" types of books, but also famous more modern books). i also bolded some books that were really good in my opinion that have really stuck with me so if you are interested in the genre i'd suggest those

st joan by bernard shaw (play)

mary and your everyday life by bernard haring (theology)

theology of liberation by gustavo gutierrez (theology)

magnificat by elizabeth ruth obbard (theology)

piedras labradas by victor montejo (poetry)

the boy who was raised as a dog by bruce perry and maia szalavitz (psychology)

4 great plays by ibsen - the dollhouse, ghosts, the wild duck, and an enemy of the people by henry ibsen (plays obvi)

the night of the iguanas by tennessee williams (play)

being logical by dq mcinerny (idk sociology maybe? it was about recognizing and avoiding bad-faith arguments and logical fallacies)

the alchemist by paolo coelho (classics)

frankenstein by mary shelly (classics)

an american tragedy by theodore dreiser (classics)

is this wifi organic? by dave farina (idk how to classify this one either but it was also about recognizing bad-faith arguments, specifically when it comes to pseudoscience)

the nicaraguan church and the revolution by joseph muligan (theology, history)

catholic social teaching: our best kept secret by peter henriot, edward deberri, and michael schultheis (theology)

beowulf (classics)

sapiens by yuval noah harari (anthropology)

the church and the second sex by mary daly (theology)

mary in the new testament edited by raymond brown, karl donfried, joseph fitzmyer, and john reumann (theology)

a catholic devotion to mary by oscar lukefahr (theology)

1001 nights / arabian nights trans. sir richard burton (classics)

a house on mango street by sandra cisneros (poetry)

primary source readings in catholic church history edited by robert feduccia and nick wagner (theology)

doing faithjustice by fred kammer, sj (theology)

winds of change by isaac asimov (sci-fi)

the sound and the fury by william faulkner (classics)

una ciudad de la españa cristiana hace mil años by claudio sanchez-albornoz (history)

the glass menajerie by tennessee williams (play)

reinventing the enemy's language by joy harjo and gloria bird (indigenous women writers anthology)

the great gatsby by f scott fitzgerald *reread* (classics)

the bell jar by sylvia plath (classics)

the kite runner by khaled hosseini (classics)

one nation, under gods by peter manseau (history)

development as freedom by amartya sen (economic / political philosophy)

women in ministry: four views edited by bonnidell and robert g clouse (practical theology)

mother of god: a history of the virgin mary by miri rubin (theology / history)

a study in scarlet and the sign of four by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

adventures of sherlock holmes by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

the casebook of sherlock holmes by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

the valley of fear by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

the memoirs of sherlock holmes by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

the return of sherlock holmes by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

the hound of the baskervilles by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

his last bow by sir arthur conan doyle (classics)

the fundamentals of ethics, fourth edition by russ shafer landau (philosophy)

dracula by bram stoker (classics) (yes i'm counting dracula daily)

desde mi silencio by carmen gomez (poetry)

happiness in this life, excerpts from the homilies of pope francis (theology)

the vigilante / the snake / the chrysanthemums by john steinbeck (classics)

quest for the living god by sister beth johnson *reread* (theology)

the adventures of tom sawyer by mark twain (classics)

the adventures of huckleberry finn by mark twain (classics)

the boys in the boat by daniel james brown (history)

and that's all folks, ending the year with some classics, plus my mom insisted i read the boys in the boat while im home for christmas because she wanted to see the movie lol. i got so many books for christmas so i'll be startin off strong next year too, and my goal is finishing my collection of john steinbeck, by which i mean obtaining as well as reading everything i can find by him. here's my list from 2022 and i'll see you next year

[decolonize-the-left]

Hi! I'm decol and welcome to my blog!

Things you should know about being here:

(if you saw a post you like please know my tipping/donation info at the bottom of this post!)

I'm an adult and post like it.

I'm also a disabled person living with my kid, & trans gf. My gf is the only one who can/does work.

My blog focus is on solidarity, mutual aid, and making the revolution accessible and intersectional.

I mostly post/reblog stuff about human rights (ex: BIPOC sovereignty & LGBT rights) along with hating capitalism, calling out white supremacy, art, nature stuff, space photos, & support/resources.

My asks are always open & when asked in good faith I'm happy to answer pretty much anything.

I freely use the delete/block so don't waste your time writing hateful paragraphs.

I also use the hateful and bigoted asks that I do publish as teachable moments, most often for recognizing bad faith arguments and dog-whistles. You won't find any needless and unnecessary hate posted on my blog.

That said, my blog has an overall content warning for pretty much everything because of the kind of content I post. Education on oppression unfortunately includes the human horrors we never want repeated. I do tag ableism and very graphic posts tho.

There's a lot of possibly triggering stuff to come across so I dont feel obligated or inclined to tag every post.

But the topic or image is bad enough then I'll tag it and I use a catch-all tag (as in abuse, gore, racism, antisemitism, etc are all included here) to make things easier for myself.

That tag is: decolstw

Ableism tags will be specific. They'll be tagged as flashing, strobing, unreality, etc. Not just tagged simply as ableism.

So yeah, that's what you can expect here.

Follow at your own discretion~

But enough about my blog (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

I'm decol and I really like painting (though I've never shared any here), space, nature, & radicalizing a generation one blog at a time.

My hobbies include herb gardening, beading, processing my trauma through horror fiction writing, taking my family out places, romanticizing the mundane, and stealing a chocolate from every new store I visit <3

I post a lot about oppression here but joy is equally important and I want y'all to know I make time for that and so should you.

Tip Info

So you're feeling helpful, learned something, or just wanna show some appreciation through a tip?

Firstly, know that anything I get will go immediately towards helping with rent & bills (we're Always behind on something since we live on one income)

Extra will go to needs like groceries & gas.

As always, if anyone needs receipts I can send/post them.

Cas4app: $CEOofAntifa

V3nmo: CEOofAntifa

PayPal: click

[ghelgheli]

Stuff I Read In February 2024

bold indicates favourites

Books

The Mantle of the Prophet, Roy Mottahedeh

Serious Weakness, Porpentine Charity Heartscape

The Traitor Baru Cormorant, Seth Dickinson

Pamphlets, Zines, etc.

Queer Fire: The George Jackson Brigade, Men Against Sexism, and Gay Struggle Against Prison [link]

Reform or Revolution? Rosa Luxemburg

Armed Joy, Alfredo M. Bonanno [link]

Designing Freedom, Stafford Beer [link]

Yuri/GL

Kill Switch, 1172

Immortal Parody, Kim Jong Geon

Her Tale of Shim Chong, Seri & Biwan

There's Weird Voices Coming from the Room Next Door! Suzuki Senpai

An Easy Introduction to Love Triangles (To Pass the Exam!) / Goukaku no Tame no! Yasashii Sankaku Kankei Nyuumon, Canno

Gentle Flutters, One Useless Dogggg

What Does the Fox Say? Gyeomji & Gaji

Our Dreams at Dusk / Shimanami Tasogare, Yuhki Kamatani

There Is No Love Wishing Upon a Star / Kono Koi wo Hoshi ni wa Negawanai, murasakino/Shinoa

Short Fiction

Serious Weakness but with Girls, Porpentine Charity Heartscape [link]

Dirty Wi-Fi, Porpentine Charity Heartscape [link]

Bist-o-chār sā'at dar xāb o bidāri / 24 Restless Hours, Samad Behrangi [link]

Yek hulu o hezār hulu / One Peach and a Thousand Peaches, Samad Behrangi [link]

Palestine

What Does It Mean To Be Palestinian Now? Noura Erakat, Ahmed Moor, Noor Hindi, Mohammed El-Kurd, Laila Al-Arian 01/25/2024 [link]

"If You Say Anything to Anyone, a Zaka Van Will Run You Over", Brad Pearce 10/18/2023 [link]

The Epistemicide of the Palestinians, Abdulla Moaswes 02/02/2024 [link]

Manufacturing Content, Nora Barrows-Friedman & Matt Lieb [link]

Comparison is the Way We Know the World, Masha Gessen 12/19/2023 [link]

The Story Behind the New York Times October 7 Exposé, Jeremy Scahill, Ryan Grim, Daniel Boguslaw 02/28/2024 [link]

Queer &c

Hands off our lives, our stories, and our bodies, AC 06/10/2022 [link]

Trapped in the Wrong Theory: Rethinking Trans Oppression and Resistance, Talia Mae Bettcher [doi]

A Cyborg Manifesto, Donna Haraway

Why Are "Gender Critical" Activists So Fond of Gametes? Julia Serano 02/13/2024 [link]

Pol

Why I Left the PSL… or the DSA or Socialist Alternative or whatever, filler kid 07/20/2021 [link]

Allies Not Accomplices: An Indigenous Perspective & Provocation, 05/02/2014 [link]

Basic Program of the Bureau of Unitary Urbanism, Attila Kotányi & Raoul Vaneigem 1961 [link]

Abolition, Nsámbu Za Suékama 06/06/2020 [link]

The Eye Upon Us Has Turned Upon Them, Nsámbu Za Suékama 07/16/2023 [link]

The Hindu Nationalists Using the Pro-Israel Playbook, Aparna Gopalan 06/28/2023 [link]

Ram Mandir and Hindutva Fascist Myth of Decolonisation, Rida Fathima 02/07/2024 [link]

How the United States Crippled Haiti's Rice Industry, Leslie Mullin [link]

A Talk to Teachers, James Baldwin [link]

Stranger in the Village, James Baldwin [link]

Other

no good alone, Rayne Fisher-Quann 04/03/2021 [link]

Everyone's A Critic, Richard Joseph 01/13/2022 [link]

Neoplatonic kingship in the Islamic world: Akbar’s millennial history, Jos Gommans & Said Reza Huseini [link]

Is `Race Science' Making a Comeback? Angela Saini 07/10/2019 [link]

you’ve been traumatized into hating reading, Ismatu Gwendolyn 02/15/2024 [link]

[goldkirk]

Top 10 mental health/similar books you've read in the past year? (or documentaries, or podcasts, anything is cool!)

this is gonna be all over the place and way more than just 10, sorry, but i'd say my top most impactful things-of-any-type I've encountered in the past year are the following.

Books:

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog

Reparenting the Child Who Hurts

Take Back Your Life

Zak George's Dog Training Revolution

When the Body Says No

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

The Case Against Conversion "Therapy": Evidence, Ethics, and Alternatives

On Tyranny

Random:

Plato's allegory of the cave

How Tax Brackets Actually Work

UV Camera Reveals The Best Way to Apply Sunscreen to Your Face

Rhett's story of his personal religious deconstruction timeline

This guy's gut wrenchingly honest, timeline-jumping, clearly articulated, and wryly humorous series explaining his long and truly wild journey to atheism

This 6 minute interview with Liz Hunter where she talks about growing up in a cult without realizing it

Church Services Are Designed to Influence You. Here's How.

Former Evangelical leader Josh Harris on renouncing Christianity

therapist talking about the lies purity culture tells women

a therapist's take on religions and emotional manipulation

Polygamist Cult Founder’s Daughter, Rachel Jeffs, Gives Her First TV Interview

Evangelical blinders/guarding your heart

Big Joel's video on anti-abortion propaganda (large focus on the movie Unplanned)

I fantasized about martyrdom too

Omnipotence paradox & laws of logic

"Cults Inside Out" with Rick Alan Ross

An analysis of the Christian martyr complex via the first three God's Not Dead movies

Raised in a cult and finding her voice (an interview with Liz Hunter)

No True Joy Outside the Church?

Pray Away: A Therapist's Take on Conversion Therapy

Nothing Fails Like Bible History - Episode 1

Personal Autonomy Post-Religion

WHAT do you do after LEAVING a cult? (life after the moonies) (this girl is SO FUNNY)

TheraminTrees's (therapist) YouTube videos, especially:

betting on infinity

rebuttals to 'betting on infinity'

false equivalence | qualiasoup and theramintrees

punishing doubt | religious condemnation of thought

'science' of the gaps

commanded to love | performing false emotions for tyrants

grooming minds | the abuse of child indoctrination

degrading love -- part one | how religions distort the meaning of 'love'

degrading love -- part two | how religions distort the meaning of 'love'

living with abusers

imaginary defects | when dogmas label us flawed

creating sickness | recovering from religion

Philosophy Tube's YouTube videos, especially:

Abortion & Ben Shapiro (you might need to pause this one a few times just to mull things over on your own time)

Ignorance & Censorship

Queer✨

Logic

Who's afraid of experts?

Identity: A Trans Coming Out Story

Social Constructs

The Hidden Rules of Modern Society

FundieFriday's YouTube videos, especially:

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

THE CREATION MUSEUM & ARK ENCOUNTER

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

The post 9/11 Evangelical fever dream that is Jesus Camp

MICHAEL & DEBI PEARL

THE MARTYRS OF COLUMBINE

iilluminaughtii's youtube videos, especially:

The Abusive Practices of Focus on the Family

The IBLP & ATI

Ex-Fundie Diaries' YouTube videos, especially:

Christian Nationalist Child Indoctrination Cult: AWANA

Christian Nationalist Propaganda | Inside My Homeschool "Science" Binder

Christian fundamentalism doesn't always look like the Duggars

Anxiety & Anger Are a Sin in Christian Fundamentalism | Emotional Child Abuse

Child Abuse | Spanking, Neglect, & Psychological Punishments in Christian Fundamentalism

Documentaries:

Scientology and the Aftermath

Pray Away

Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult

Lots of others on YouTube and Netflix I'm sorry it's just hard to dig them all up lol, if I have energy some other time I will

Hope this helps someone!

[earthbeamingwradiance]

I don't really have critical things to say about today's Les Mis Letters, but it did remind me of a few quotes I've pulled from other texts, so I will drop them into the tag with the caveat that I am not an expert in any of these fields lol. I am but a lowly fiction writer who reads queer theory and care ethics stuff for fun and in an effort to find more meaning & understanding in my own worldview/work.

Let's start with Enjolras's speech, under the cut.

“It is a bad moment to pronounce the word love. No matter, I do pronounce it. And I glorify it. Love, the future is thine. Death, I make use of thee, but I hate thee. Citizens, in the future there will be neither darkness nor thunderbolts; neither ferocious ignorance, nor bloody retaliation. As there will be no more Satan, there will be no more Michael. In the future no one will kill any one else, the earth will beam with radiance, the human race will love. The day will come, citizens, when all will be concord, harmony, light, joy and life; it will come, and it is in order that it may come that we are about to die.”

Obviously we're all emotionally compromised by "Love, the future is thine," but I've been thinking about this post from everyonewasabird about how it's a conversation they're all having—to quote the post, "Revolutions are an act of love, and love is why they’re here."

Now, anyone who knows me well will know that I think a lot about the ethics of care, something my philosopher sibling put me onto. I've recently been reading Trans Care by Hil Malatino, which is free to read through the University of Minnesota website.

To pull from the book's own blurb, "Trans Care is a critical intervention in how care labor and care ethics have been thought, arguing that dominant modes of conceiving and critiquing the politics and distribution of care entrench normative and cis-centric familial structures and gendered arrangements. A serious consideration of trans survival and flourishing requires a radical rethinking of how care operates."

I am drawn particularly to these series of sentences:

"To stand on the right side of history is to care. To be committed to social justice is to care. Self-care is imperative for those in the political trenches of the left—we spend so much time caring for others we forget to care about ourselves, but we can’t care for others effectively if we don’t attend to our own needs sometimes. Self-care is warfare, after all, as Audre Lorde (1988) reminds us. We actively care for folks—as social workers, sex workers, teachers, parents, service workers, nurses, nonprofit hustlers—but we also care about others in the abstract. We are able to pragmatically prioritize the greater good; we are not, ostensibly, wholly dominated by the vicious id of self-interest. We are able to place ourselves in another’s shoes: to care is to empathize enough to grasp and service the needs of another, and to do so willingly."

Which obviously led me to look up the Lorde quote—from the epilogue of A Burst of Light

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

I think it's interesting to contrast "self-care as warfare in a world which is actively hostile to the existence/survival of many" with "it is in order that it may come that we are about to die." I could go down a whole rabbit hole about martyrdom here, but I'll spare you, and lead you onto hope instead.

I've also been reading Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity by José Esteban Muñoz. I must be clear that I have barely skimmed the surface of queer futurity in my own reading, but as someone who read the phrase "Love, the future is thine" as an impressionable teenager, the version of hope that is essential to Muñoz's futurity...resonates deeply.

"Queerness is essentially about the rejection of a here and now and an insistence on potentiality or concrete possibility for another world."

Much of the introduction of Cruising Utopia discusses the thinkings of philosopher Ernst Bloch, who talks about hope as a necessary step of striving for utopia—this, I think, would resonate with Enjolras as well.

"Unlike possibility, a thing that simply might happen, a potentiality is a certain mode of nonbeing that is eminent, a thing that is present but not actually existing in the present tense. ... Bloch would posit that such utopian feelings can and regularly will be disappointed. They are nonetheless indispensable to the act of imaging transformation ... As Bloch would insist, hope can be disappointed. But such disappointment needs to be risked if certain impasses are to be resisted."

I wish I had something intelligent to say to tie all my thoughts about these quotes together...since this is my post, allow me to fumble for a moment in search of a neat bow.

Love, the future is thine—there exists a future, though it may be impossible to reach, in which we care, willingly. Hope is a striving for this future. And while hope may be disappointed—it is still a necessary step to bring this future into fruition.

Enjolras, in this speech, rejects the here and now. He may be Justice, now. But that's not the future he's striving for. There is, for Enjolras, a concrete possibility of a future in which he doesn't need to be Justice.

Love (care), the future is thine.

He hopes.

[lupismaris]

Happy trans day of revolution visibility here's one for those who are fighting for their chance and right to transition from one transmasc queer to all my loved ones- may we keep fighting and find every ounce of joy in every moment of peace the fight allows. We are so worthy of joy and so worthy of the beautiful lives laid out before us and I'm so proud to be fighting this fight and living this life that i didn't expect to still be living along side you all. With every ounce of love, James 💕🥂 (they/he)

[sarawritesif]

ARDENIA ONLINE (VRMMORPG)

Introduction:

The year was 2076, and the world had undergone a radical transformation. Technology had advanced by leaps and bounds, and with it, the gaming industry had reached unprecedented heights. The Crux Corporation, a conglomerate of renowned companies, stood at the forefront of this revolution.

They had created Ardenia Online, a groundbreaking Virtual Reality Massively Multi-player Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) that would blur the line between reality and fantasy. As the sun set on the old world, a new dawn rose within the vast digital landscape of Ardenia. It was a world divided into two distinct realms: Ardenia, a realm of ethereal beauty and magic, and Ioyeni, a cyberpunk dystopia teeming with futuristic marvels.

- Play as male, female, non-binary, and trans. - Choose between two different worlds - each with its own unique race and class. - You can be a Warrior Elf or a Gunslinger Cyborg; it’s up to you. - Distribute your stats, learn new skills, and get the strongest weapons and equipment… or die trying. - Climb your way to the very top and become the strongest person in the game… or don’t. - Romance your fellow players or just focus on getting stronger. - Rise above all and rule them all.

Arlo González (M)

Physical Description: Arlo stands tall at 6’2" with a muscular build. He has warm caramel complexion, short curly dark brown hair, and hazel eyes that hold a mix of determination and protection.

Likes: Arlo enjoys exploring ancient ruins, sharpening his shooting skills, and gazing at starry nights.

Dislikes: He dislikes crowded places, dishonesty, and prejudice.

Hobbies: Arlo spends his free time reading adventure novels and going hiking or camping.

Personality Traits: He is reserved yet fiercely loyal, focused, and caring. Arlo’s determination is matched only by his protective instincts.

MBTI: INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)

Birth Date: October 10th

Portrait: Available on patreon.

Alex Wright (NB)

Physical Description: Alex stands at 5’10" with an agile build. They have golden hair that shimmers and brown eyes that reflect their inquisitive nature.

Likes: Alex is passionate about astronomy, loves experimenting with new ideas, and enjoys playing the violin in their free time.

Dislikes: They dislike narrow-mindedness, recklessness, and the wasteful use of resources.

Hobbies: Alex spends their time inventing and experimenting, often stargazing and observing celestial bodies with their telescope.

Personality Traits: Inquisitive and logical, Alex’s fascination with the world around them is infectious. Their creative intellect shines through in their endeavors.

MBTI: INTP (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving)

Birth Date: December 1st

Portrait: Available on patreon.

Elara Thorne (F)

Physical Description: Elara stands at 5’9" with a slender frame, silver hair that shimmers like moonlight, and forest green eyes that exude wisdom and compassion.

Likes: She finds joy in tinkering with gadgets, participating in graceful dances, and sharing stories with fellow players.

Dislikes: Elara dislikes unnecessary destruction, arrogance, and being confined indoors.

Hobbies: She volunteers at an animal shelter, attends dance classes, and advocates for environmental causes.

Personality Traits: Elara is known for her elegance and compassion. She’s wise and understanding, always seeking harmony in her interactions with others.

MBTI: ENFJ (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging)

Birth Date: July 23rd

Portrait: TBA

Kai Anderson (M)

Physical Description: Kai’s sturdy 5’4" frame is complemented by fiery-red hair and curious blue eyes that reflect his adventurous spirit.

Likes: He enjoys trying exotic foods, exploring deep caves, and occasionally playing light-hearted pranks on his friends.

Dislikes: Kai dislikes stuffy formal events, being underestimated.

Hobbies: His hobbies include cooking hearty meals, challenging rock climbing expeditions, and hosting parties.

Personality Traits: Adventurous and mischievous.

MBTI: ENFP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving)

Birth Date: November 5th

Portrait: TBA

Nova Adewale (F)

Physical Description: Nova’s lithe 5’7" form carries an air of serenity. Silvery-white hair, warm dark skin and bright purple eyes give her a calming yet mystical presence.

Likes: Nova finds peace in meditating, stargazing, and writing poetry that reflects her deep connection to nature.

Dislikes: She dislikes conflict, injustice, and overly loud environments that disrupt her tranquility.

Hobbies: Nova immerses herself in various forms of art and dedicates time to volunteering for charitable causes.

Personality Traits: Compassionate and calming, Nova’s presence radiates empathy. Her quiet strength and gentle demeanor make her a soothing presence to be around.

MBTI: ISFJ (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging)

Birth Date: April 12th

Portrait: TBA

Abel/Amelia Santos (M/F)

Physical Description: With light curly brown hair, grey eyes, and pale skin adorned with freckles, Abel/Amelia carries an air of gentle kindness.

Likes: They enjoy reading, practicing magic, and spending time stargazing under the night sky.

Dislikes: They dislike arrogance, conflicts, and anything that contradicts their values of warmth and compassion.

Hobbies: Abel/Amelia finds joy in playing the saxophone, reading a book, and engaging in legal research.

Personality Traits: Kind-hearted and empathetic, Abel/Amelia is a good listener and a true friend. Their gentle disposition draws others to them naturally.

MBTI: INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging)

Birth Date: March 15th

Portrait: TBA

Raven Li (M/F/NB)

Physical Description: Raven possesses an enigmatic aura, standing at 5’8". Their ebony hair cascades in unruly waves, and their eyes, the color of stormy skies, hold secrets yet to be unveiled.

Likes: Raven is drawn to the mysteries of the world, thriving on the thrill of uncovering hidden truths and exploring the unknown.

Dislikes: They despise monotony, blind trust, and revealing too much about themselves.

Hobbies: ???

Personality Traits: Wild and sly, Raven has an air of mystery that surrounds them. They are resourceful, quick-witted, and always a step ahead.

MBTI: ISTP (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving)

Birth Date: May 7th

Portrait: TBA

Links: Demo Forum Patreon Kofi

[sp00kyrachael]

i just cant get over it. if you have a problem with people celebrating others' transness thats *your* problem for having internalized society's hatred as making your gender expression a necessary, solemn burden and not something transforming you into a walking revolution, not *my* problem for not censoring myself from extending my trans joy to those around me.

We are the future, and we are revolution. I mean that as a matter of life and death. People see us. People who have been struggling with their identity, and who need to see a transgender community of vibrant souls who live our lives and celebrate each other and find joy in what makes us different.

If i am someone's "so gender", I'm doing something right, and that something is making trans joy a communal act. We can only rise by uplifting each other. Isolation is death.

[rebel-girl-queen-of-my-world]

What a role model, Rest in power, Shatzi Weisberger. May her memory be a blessing. #Repost @jewishvoiceforpeace with @use.repost ・・・ With full, heavy hearts, we share that Shatzi, the People’s Bubbie, died at the age of 92. 💔🕯 Shatzi Weisberger — anti-Zionist Jew, lesbian, AIDS nurse, death educator — was a guiding light and source of wisdom and joy for our community. Older than the state of Israel, she showed us Judaism beyond Zionism is possible. Shatzi spent her whole life organizing for a better world where we take care of each other and love each other harder. She was deeply involved in, and forged connections between, various movements, “fighting like hell” for Palestinians, for queer and trans people, for police and prison abolition, and more. Shatzi faced her death as she lived her life, and as she taught others to live and die: fully, intentionally, with an open heart, surrounded by love from the community she built during her near-century in the streets. “I’m dying, and sometimes I’m physically miserable,” she told those loved ones. “Yet this is the best time of my life.” The outpouring of in-person and virtual support Shatzi received in her time of need demonstrates what’s possible when we build political family (and new forms of kinship) that many of us lack in our families of origin, our mainstream institutions, and the cruel systems we live under. While both living and dying, Shatzi conjured a sense of home, belonging, and care in every space she blessed with her presence. Though she felt “isolated in [her] anti-Zionism” when she joined the Palestinian liberation movement in 1983, she ultimately showed us that anti-Zionist Jews — and everyone fighting for justice everywhere — aren’t alone. We have each other, we have elders, we have history. While we no longer physically have Shatzi, we’ll always have her memory. And may her memory be for a revolution, from New York to Palestine. ❤️✊ Graphic by @gaychelquacker #shatziweisberger #inmemory #mayhermemorybearevolution #mayhermemorybeablessing #judaism #antizionist #activists #lgbtqpride #lgbtpride #queer #jewishvoiceforpeace #freepalestine #palestine #blacklivesmatter #restinpower https://www.instagram.com/p/ClrzQMOse98/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[erigold13261]

Hi can we hear more about the Failed Rock Revolution AU? It sounds and looks intriguing and amazing!

Oooh yes! I’d love to! Though there is a lot to this AU so I don’t know if I will get to everything. I can give the gist of the AU for the most part and go into details on anything someone might want more info on!

And again, under the cut because it is fairly long. And just a note, this is a darker AU. It’s not as fun or silly as my Swap AU. I don’t think there is anything too drastic to warn about. I do quickly mention a minor character death, abuse of power, deteriorating mental health, but I don’t go into great detail.

I’m mainly going to be focusing on the aftermath of the failed Revolution, but I can go into how things in history changed to make people act differently. Like, for example, the Goolings in this AU had a rougher break-up making Tatiana even more stuck up and hostile to rock, and Neon and his Wife’s relationship is different which kept him from fully going with the cyborgification (he still has plenty of robotic features, but he has his face/head in this AU).

But the main gist of this AU is that 1010 were able to stop the Rock Revolution. Mayday and Zuke sustained some heavy injuries from the fight that left them incapable of playing their instruments anymore, meaning the Revolution kinda died. And since May and Zuke did not fully complete the Revolution like in-game, things are very different for a lot of the characters.

For DJSS, he was stuck in orbit for a bit longer. When he did eventually come back down his head had severe cracking. Other than that actually, he is not affected by the Revolution that much. He was affected more by the past where he was fired from his teaching job instead of quitting, making him much more bitter and hostile to others than the OG DJSS.

For the Sayu Crew, Sayu is not an AI and won’t become one, especially not after people start thinking robots/AIs are dangerous from how 1010 fought B2J. The Crew is also very confused on what they should do, whether to stay with NSR and keep making music that now feels wrong to them or quit and try to figure out what to do with their lives at such a young age with no real backup plan. 

The only other thing that really changed history-wise for the Crew is that Dodo was given cybernetics and can now talk (not that he wanted them, it was forced by his parents) and that Remi has not come out as trans yet and is still seen as a girl using she/her pronouns (at least publicly. With the Crew he is seen as a guy between them).

For Yinu, her piano stays broken. There is no music magic to fix it and so a lot of passion for playing is actually stifled in Yinu. Her job that once brought joy is now becoming bittersweet and exhausting. Mama sustained damage to her spine from the fall (which is actually the same for my OG Mama, I just haven’t shown it much) but she refuses to use a cane (which is NOT like my OG Mama).

Historically, not much is changed for Mama or Yinu’s past. They still lost Papa and moved to Vinyl City to work for NSR around the same time. The only difference really for them is that because the music magic never fixed the piano, and there was no reconciliation between the family and B2J, Mama has become even more protective and overbearing on Yinu. Which just makes Yinu even more upset and wanting freedom and to stop playing the piano.

For 1010 and Neon J, there is a lot that has changed (of course there is, this is me. 1010 all the way lol). Both historically and after the Revolution. They intertwine a lot, but I will try to keep it brief. The doll/kid versions of 1010 were destroyed, meaning they never get those memories of Neon’s Ex-wife and kid, or any peace-time memories before the war. Because of this, they are not as human-acting when MK units (if anything they act more like canon 1010 than my versions of 1010) and Neon is not as attached to them as he is as OG Neon with his 1010. He still loves them, but not in the way as he would if the dolls were able to become the MK units, since to him these are just robots he built to fill an empty void. They were not even given names (I like to think the fanon names are the names Neon picked out for potential kids, so he would not give these “replacements” real names), so instead they are just their colors (White, Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, and Purple).

As you can see, Purple is, or at least WAS, a part of 1010. The reason he is no longer part of 1010 was because Tatiana destroyed him to set an example of what happens when robots become dangerous to the public (she honestly thought Neon would just rebuild him and was trying to set an example so 1010 would behave). Well Purple was lost, and Neon was trying to find a way to quit NSR without abandoning 1010 as NSR owned 1010 at this point in time (this was the same in my OG version, but negotiating with Tatiana got them out of that situation, but this Neon was too scared to attempt that for fear of losing 1010).

At the time of the Revolution, 1010 were all metal (no flowing hair or kinda human-like silicone skin) and just following orders given by Neon (All-kill protocol). Even without their human-like memories they would know not to ACTUALLY hurt B2J too much, just to try and stop them. But as B2J destroyed 1010 and the factory, Blue became desperate to protect his troops, his captain, and NSR. Which led to Blue breaking May’s arm (to the point it later needed to be amputated) and severing a tendon in Zuke’s arm, fracturing his skull, and damaging his spine/legs (he was more hostile to Zuke because of Zuke’s comments on destroying the factory). In the end, it was this act of violence from Blue that put 1010 on the spot for possibly being too dangerous along with questions of what to do with Sayu if she were to become an AI at some point. (there’s probably more with 1010 but I will leave it there for them).

For Eve, she never fought B2J. So her feelings for Zuke were never dealt with. What she did have to face though was the fact that Blue had almost killed Zuke, leading Eve to resent 1010 and start acting very cruel to them. I feel like her mental state was very fragile at this point, causing her to spiral and hurt people around her: Blue, Neon, Remi, even Zuke when she tried to reach out to him since now she had an idea of where he would be. Everyone to her was an enemy at this point and she felt more alone than ever. (She was not in therapy because I have the idea that Eve only started therapy after the Revolution, so since that was stopped, she is not getting the help that she needs.)

Historically, instead of staying with both parents while her parents split, she instead stayed with her mother only and so she was not raised alongside Remi at all. Even though they are half siblings, they are not very close at all. If anything, Eve doesn’t even see him as a sibling while Remi looks up to her, basically putting her on a pedestal and trying to be more like her (even if it is the more negative aspects of Eve that are more apparent in this AU).

For Tatiana, like I said earlier, the Goolings had a much harsher break-up. She is now a lot less caring about those around her. Even when her OG version was cold, she still cared about the city and the people who worked under her, but this version is a lot more callous to the point of pushing her artists more and more. Rock is definitely a thing she detests now, not just dislikes and annoyed with. Even other genres are pushed back, making a lot of the Megastars have to redo their music at times if they stray too close to a particular genre outside of EDM for fear of some kind of retaliation. This could be in the very SEVERE case of 1010 losing a member to her anger, or Mama getting implied threats about Yinu’s future in the music business getting a lot more difficult. It has become a very toxic work environment that puts EDM above everything else.

For the Revolution part of her story. She was happy that B2J was dealt with, but not with the fact that 1010 is now seen as a dangerous tool in the hands of a record label/power company. So she forced Neon to remove all weapons and fighting abilities from 1010 or else she would get someone else to do it. She put restrictions on robots, AIs, holograms, and anything else the public might get spooked by. Meaning that Yinu, DJ, and Eve would all be forced to work overtime very soon after recovering to pick up slack for Sayu and 1010. Leading to just more resentment between all the charters, most of it aimed at 1010 and Neon (the only one not TRULY angry or resentful of 1010/Neon is DJSS). 

Some of the resentment comes from fear of robots now, such as Mama terrified that one of 1010 is going to go haywire and try to hurt Yinu. So she tries to keep them away, yelling at them when they get close or even shoving them away so that Yinu is safe in her eyes. There’s resentment for ACTUALLY hurting a loved one, which is Eve hating 1010 (mainly Blue) for hurting Zuke. She now treats the group, and Neon, with cold hostility, and if she is ever alone with Blue she uses her mind powers on him to show him what Zuke must have felt when Blue was attacking. Then there is the resentment of losing work, which is the Sayu Crew who are now being forced to basically take a pay cut and not be as creative all because 1010 decided to hurt people. 

It’s not just others hating 1010, there is resentment within the group. White hates almost everyone around him (especially Tatiana and Blue), the only exception being Neon J. Blue is full of self loathing, anxiety, and fear of messing up again and leading to the death of the other members of 1010 (along with the fact that Blue is the technical leader of 1010, White is only the leader in the public eye). Red is terrified of everything. He is almost always cowering behind Blue or Yellow when not around fans. Yellow has become an absolute prick, picking on White, Red, and Green. Trying to take back some control in his life on the few people he deems lower than him. And Green is just tired of everything and wants to quit music. He is very depressed and once his weaponry was removed, his ring acted like a force shut-off button, which Yellow and White love to pull and make him shut down. Everyone in this AU has basically become toxic to each other because of the environment, and it seems like no matter what people try to do, things just get worse.

Um, I think that’s all I have for now with Tatiana. No one figures out she is Kul Fyra. She doesn’t blast her head off revealing any crystals. Her fire/spark for rock stays extinguished. There is no talk between her and Kliff. To her, everything goes back to normal except with a few more rules to keep the order. It’s all perfect to her and so she can’t see the terrible environment she is promoting both for her megastars and for the citizens of Vinyl City.

For Kliff, I will be honest, I haven’t thought of him much in this AU. I kinda see him bailing on B2J the second he realizes they were done in by 1010. He probably feels guilty about kinda being the reason robots now have such heavy restrictions on them, but not enough to try and reach out to Neon and reveal himself. He would try to get in contact with Tatiana or B2J at some point. Failing to get to Tatiana but able to get to B2J. There would be an apology at first and then the formation of a new plan to get back at NSR, only for the 2 to just tell him to go away. They can’t do this anymore. Their spirits were broken along with their bodies. Probably leading to Kliff feeling abandoned again, but not as much since he could physically see why the two were giving up rock. Still though, he’d try and start a new revolution somehow, kinda vanishing for now. (I’ll try to think more for him, but for now this is what I got.)

For DK West, he and Zuke had the first two rap battles. So when Zuke ended up disowning West, then going up against 1010 only to get severely hurt, West didn’t know what to do. He was hurt by Zuke but still loved his brother. This ended up with him selling his house, land, and wagon to move to the city and take care of Zuke and May. Trying to find ways to help them pay for medical bills and become accustomed to their new way of life. I don’t think Zuke ever really apologizes to West, but it is a fear in his mind that potentially the last thing he said to his brother was that they weren’t related and that he basically hated him. The two have a very strained relationship, and May is trying to help them figure things out, but it is all just pain and sorrow for the three at the moment. 

That is all the main stuff I have! I could go into more details about specific characters, either histories or how their personalities have changed because of their environment. I really want to draw more for this AU because it is honestly a lot of fun to think of it! I have no idea what to call it other than like “Failed Revolution” or something, so I will go with that for now. I’d love to talk more about this if people want to hear more! :D

[jodjuya]

I think I'm no longer a feminist.

Now I'm a gender abolitionist. I don't know if that's the word for the thing I am, but that's what feels like the right name. Something to investigate...

It's not about discarding and disavowing feminism, but rather, taking the stance that feminism is the giant upon whose shoulders we are standing, and it's come time to work together to build a new thing as feminism itself did to the suffragettes.

[I think I'll find a lot of groundwork for this new thing in anarcho-feminism, so that's something else for me to go investigate.]

Gender Abolitionism, henceforth "GA", is what it says on the tin, in the sense of focusing on improving people's lives when problems are caused by their gender, regardless of their gender.

The long and short of it is that it's a bundling together of feminism, queer rights, trans rights, men's liberation, and transhumanism (for future-proofing) with the aims and ambitions of all those movements amalgamated and unified and everything as hard LibLeft as possible.

I'm not going to dignify their eventual outcry by preemptively addressesing any criticisms of GA i could imagine from reactionary crybabies and their shitty hot-takes made in the absolute worst faith possible. Not worth my time, blood pressure, serenity, or effort. But the long and short of it would be an affirmation that, no, we're not here just to be Negative Nancy over a bunch of made up nonsenses that aren't even real issues, and we're certainly not trying to "ban gender" or whatever the fuck.

No, we're actually here because everyone will have a much nicer time in their lives if they just stop allowing the concept of gender to cause so dang many problems in the world...

We're here, that is to say, because Gender Abolitionism is fun. Much more fun than the alternatives, at least.

Don't get me wrong, GA is still dignified and serious and sensible work, of course!

but it never stops seeking the positive, never stops centering and celebrating hope and love and dignity and connectedness and sexiness and all the other joys of a life well-lived. Yelling at people "just for believing in gender" isn't what we're here to do.

"IF I CAN'T DANCE... I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF YOUR REVOLUTION"

as Emma Goldman didn't say.