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She’s not even in the top 30 for carbon emissions. (Beyoncé and Jay-Z actually rank higher.)

And the fact that minutes after she posted about her new album, she had 2 million likes already. We already know the power she has. One example is the surge in voter registration among her devout fanbase just a short while ago because of HER encouragement. This is probably the third or fourth time I've spoken about Swift on my page. And apart from wholeheartedly believing celebrity culture needs to be dismantled entirely -billionaires are never ethical, no matter how beloved they are. Like the fact her and her team are going after a 21 year old for exposing her beyond egregious use of her private jet is just wild to me. Swift must be held accountable for things like this. It's ridiculous she's not.

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Moments of clarity

Mine usually hit me at the weirdest times.

I dated a woman last summer who was not a good fit in pretty much any category. She’s a good person, I think, but we are so fundamentally different that it was hard to recognize up close.

We couldn’t hold hands in public out of fear of being caught.

I was told to hide when her family called because she was concerned about them hearing me. This wasn’t deeply hurtful because I had been through an almost identical experience, but it was enough that I recognized the feelings it could have rekindled.

We didn’t laugh at the same humor. Mine is more in line with “The Office” or “Parks and Rec”. (I don’t recall seeing her ever laugh at anything, now that I think about it.)

She mostly preferred to stay inside for dates. We only went out together to pick up food. One time we visited an arcade.

I don’t want to lie and say I’ve never dealt with the fear of coming out, but I also don’t want to say it paralyzed me.

My current partner and I spend a lot of time just talking about life. She has been really open with her past relationships and experiences; I haven’t opened up as much, mostly because I don’t know where to start. (Therapy has been helpful, but even that has taken a while.)

Still, it’s the differences in these two women that led me to sharing these thoughts with absolutely nobody you.

I met my partner’s family three months into my relationship. She has numerous cousins and aunts. I met all of them. At the same time. They all love hugs. They all got one. It was magical. That doesn’t exactly coincide with my own upbringing, which was louder and less…wholesome. Anyway.

I was told almost instantly how “cool” it was that I am a lesbian. Yes, I’m so very cool. At the time, I was a walking pair of scrubs, operating purely on my hatred for nursing courses and Milo’s Lemonade. (Now it’s just the lemonade. Thank god nursing school is over.)

Our goal as a couple is to do one “social” thing per visit — we live long-distance for now, so it averages out to once a month. It would be once a week if distance had no impact on our relationship.

We are both cringing at the fact that “Ozark” might as well be finished because we’ve already committed so much time. We have discussed it and we are not going to speak of it once we finish the series. (Three episodes to go!!!)

The woman I briefly dated last summer struck me (“jokingly”) after making a joke about my chronic health condition. I don’t remember the exact context because I wasn’t sober, unfortunately. (Neither was she.)

I spilled root beer on my current partner’s sofa and cowered almost immediately. She shrugged it off and told me she needed to replace the sofa anyway.

I pushed all of the negative experiences with the woman from last summer to the back of mind and pretended like they didn’t bother me. My current partner and therapist have slowly cracked open my rigid outer shell and are allowing me to open up to them…slowly. It’s going to take a lot more time, I think, but it’s nice to peel away the layers of life that I’ve put a disguise on almost every day.

If you’re someone who’s considering therapy, I highly recommend it. If you’re someone who’s considering asking out my amazingly beautiful and thoughtful girlfriend, I do not recommend that. I would actually be kinda bummed.

Having a support system is wonderful and important and you are worthy of the comforts it offers. If you find yourself in a moment of clarity, I hope you’re able to reflect on your experience(s) with the knowledge that you pushed through and are making the best possible version of yourself that exists.

And if you need more time…that’s OK, too.

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“I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. I will let you fall in love with that kitty cat. And then, on some dark, cold night I will steal away into your home and punch you in the face.”

— Sue Sylvester

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I’m begging you all to learn what introvert and extrovert actually mean.

“Omg I’m such an introvert, I don’t hold the door open for people when they’re coming toward the elevator lol!!!” Actually you’re just rude.

“Omg I’m such an extrovert, I love going out every night and drinking with friends!” Actually you…probably need to talk to a professional.

Jesus.

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Bought a starlight projector for my apartment.

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I think owning your burdens is half the battle. Still, it’s not that daunting if you look around and see what other people have to deal with.

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Hospital just lost its second-hottest employee. Don’t think you can drool all over her just because you rank me number one. Baby, Nurse Tisdale’s number one.You g–you gotta be single to be on the list.

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picture source

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No further commentary required.

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Black Lives Matter

Last week we reacted with feeling. This week we’re channeling that feeling into fuel for action. 

The ongoing protests against police brutality are not just a response to the unnecessary deaths of a few. They are a response to 401 years of racism. The unequal treatment of BIPOC was built into the blueprint of the United States, and we still see the indirect and direct consequences of that fact. 

Tumblr has a moral obligation to our community to use this platform in a socially responsible manner. Staying silent about our solidarity with the police brutality protests last week was not an option. Simply spreading our message of solidarity without actionable follow-up this week was not an option, either. 

What Tumblr is doing

Diversity and inclusion will remain an ongoing open and honest conversation within our company. This week we have come together as an organization to make sure the necessary conversations are being held. Dialogue is great, but action is needed. 

Hate speech is not allowed on Tumblr. That sort of hateful rhetoric leads to violence. White supremacists, Nazis, and other purveyors of hate can fully fuck off. They are not welcome here. As we promised last month, hate speech will not go unchecked. If you see hate speech, report it to our Trust & Safety team. They will remove all content against our Community Guidelines.  

Tumblr is a platform. The small team of <200 employees behind Tumblr are people. People who are scared, hopeful, angry, sad, and impassioned. People who care. As individuals, many of us are marching, protesting, and donating. We wanted to share some of the places we’ve donated to over the last two weeks in the hopes that you’ll check them out yourselves:

Color of Change demands justice and equality for Black people in the United States.

Black Girls Smile is dedicated to providing young Black women with mental health resources.

Equal Justice Initiative works to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality. 

Homeless Black Trans Woman Fund provides Black trans women in Atlanta with housing, food, and necessities.  

Our social advocacy team is seeking more activists to do Issue Times on issues that affect the Black community. So often, the best suggestions come from all of you. Let us know who you want to hear from. As always, we will read the reblogs from this post.

Our official Tumblr for all things social advocacy, @action​, will continue to reblog posts from the community on more ways to help support the protests. 

Ways we can all help

Over the years, the Tumblr community has solidified itself as being passionate advocates for social justice. Through your posts, group chats, and messages, you educate yourself and others. If you’re not Black, commit to being a better ally. Listen to the Black community. 

Last week @theblackoutofficial​ collected a nice list of resources here on Tumblr. You can stay further informed by following the Black Lives Matter, BLM, and protests tag.

There is a place for everyone in the Black Lives Matter movement. You may be unable to march or attend rallies, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit on the sidelines. You can pass out water, masks, and hand sanitizer if you can’t march. You can donate to a charity you believe in or give money to your local mutual aid organization. 

Contact your officials to encourage our communities to invest in areas we know can prevent crime before it even happens: youth services, education, adequate housing, trauma services, counseling, and restorative justice programs. You can use these easy pre-filled form emails for a number of cities.

Just yesterday, U.S. House and Senate leaders introduced the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. This legislation may work to hold police accountable for their actions. We’re watching the developments of this closely, and suggest you do, too. Call your senators and call your representatives to support this legislation. 

Are you an artist of any kind? Or do you just like art? There are tons of artists on Tumblr who are doing commission fundraisers for charities that have an impact on Black communities. Considering buying something or starting one yourself. 

Lastly: Vote!  

Vote! Vote! Register to vote! Even if you missed the deadline for upcoming elections, register to vote now so you can participate in the next one. You deserve to have a say in what happens within your community.

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People will try to absolve themselves of guilt in a lot of weird ways, and sometimes that includes hurting people, even if that wasn’t the intention.

I myself have done it. You have probably done it, too. Nobody’s perfect.

It doesn’t mean it hurts any less.

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Got broken up with in early May. Had to rehome my cats (to my parents) two weeks later because of allergies.

Hoping for a better month.

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You roll over towards me, still ¾ths asleep, and drape your arm across my stomach, snuggling your head into my shoulder and resting your forehead against my cheek. You make the softest of contented sounds into my ear, and my heart just overflows. I am at home here.

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Interestingly, this message could have been shared without the help of images. It’s a simple message. It’s not one that I agree with, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

I want anyone seeing this post to think about the logic behind the pictures. Why do you think they went with a white guy whose pants were sagging and put him next to a black man who was dressed in a suit? At surface level, it seems harmless.

Dig a little deeper. It’s a subtle form of racism. “Normally, we would show the black guy with sagging pants and the white guy in the suit, but you’d be expecting that. We wanted to show you that whites can have sagging pants and blacks can wear suits, too!”

People share these images with the intention of “doing good” and proving they’re not racist, but they always miss the mark. It requires a bit more forethought than the average person of privilege — in this case, a white person — is willing to give.

I am white. I don’t have a problem saying that. I’ll admit that it’s taken me longer than it should have to fully immerse myself in the Black Lives Matter Movement. After taking a step back and listening, I recognize we are at a crucial time in history where we can make a difference. If I am able to use my voice in a way that helps make a difference for others, there is no better time than now. I may never fully understand the struggles, but I can be part of a generation that made a difference.

As for respect? The right to life is not an issue of “respect.” It’s a literal right; it’s not something another human being can give to anyone. And that’s what the issue is.

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