#Angola News Today

[makingqueerhistory]

Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender

Kit Heyam

Today's narratives about trans people tend to feature individuals with stable gender identities that fit neatly into the categories of male or female. Those stories, while important, fail to account for the complex realities of many trans people's lives. Before We Were Trans illuminates the stories of people across the globe, from antiquity to the present, whose experiences of gender have defied binary categories. Blending historical analysis with sharp cultural criticism, trans historian and activist Kit Heyam offers a new, radically inclusive trans history, chronicling expressions of trans experience that are often overlooked, like gender-nonconforming fashion and wartime stage performance. Before We Were Trans transports us from Renaissance Venice to seventeenth-century Angola, from Edo Japan to early America, and looks to the past to uncover new horizons for possible trans futures.

(Affiliate link above)

[deeptrashwitch]

A Haunting Past (pt.5)

Tw: This chapter doesn't have any trigger warning, please correct me if you find any that should be added ^^

Taglist: @alypink @snootlestheangel @mctvsh @stuffireadandenjoy @islandtarochips

@justasmolbard @tapioca-milktea1978 @midnight193 @mutantthedark @welldonekhushi

Alicia was in the kitchen, looking outside in silence as her tea cup got colder, but her mind was remembering. The times when she was a Sergeant inside Camp Lejeune, before she became a Captain and even before she met Edward, when she ran beside the new soldiers for the 267 during the training basically screaming some cadences to keep the pace. Now those times were long gone, those days were now blurry memories that brought a sour feeling back.

"It's two in the morning, Alicia" Wraith murmured as she walked inside the kitchen "you should be sleeping"

"I tried. Didn't work" she said without looking at her

"That's odd, usually you don't have this many bad nights in a row"

"All this made them worse, I can't sleep and even if I use medicine...it doesn't works either"

"...And what are you thinking about now?"

"How to rescue my cousin" she half lied with a sigh "I heard from the team who had this location about how it was distributed"

"And?"

"It's apparently the same"

"Oh, that won't be something good" Wraith murmured before sitting as well "Alicia, I have some things to tell you"

"I'm all ears"

"Watcher called me reluctantly, I'm sure you heard about all that has been happening, right?"

"The attack to the plane was the last thing I heard"

"From there they found some things about Makarov, apparently White Tiger gave that bastard some missiles and he used it against a Russian base" Dominique explained pinching her nose bridge "it all has been a chaos with them as well, but they found some intel about a safe house and most important...the route of a convoy that apparently will transport Makarov himself"

"You don't think he's there, do you?"

"Mmm, at this point I'm not sure, but it has to be someone important to be so well scorted. And the 141 asked for our help to ambush the convoy"

"...When and where?"

"Siberia, two days from today. But, you need to give this one to Luke, I need you for something else"

"Oh?"

"I have something on the Broken Statue matter, it's something smaller than I would like, but it's our best shot right now"

"Tell me"

"The one who did it surely is someone of a higher rank, and I know that it doesn't exactly narrows our suspects since it was a conjoined mission...but I found something on that archive that might give us something" she said, leaving a copy of a note inside the lost archive over the table "it's just a brief mention, but they apparently went after the old Captain as well, the retired William McAllister"

"After Artemis? I mean, he hasn't been in scene since...he put Oliver on charge" Alicia murmured with a frown "why appearing now? And mostly under this kind of conditions"

"No one knew this, but Artemis was one of the people that was consulted during the planning of Firewall with other superiors from the branches. He suggested two teams, SEAL 3 and your Task Force"

"William was involved then? That changes some things..." she murmured before sighing heavily "SEAL 3 and Morocco, how much does Jackson knows? And Edward?"

"You knew about their involvement?"

"When I first heard about Jackson, I guessed it, and about Eddie...I heard it from the 101st"

"I see. Well, Blackwell is just aware of his part of the mission and that there was a rescue"

"Continue"

"And Jackson...he knows that something bad happened, but isn't sure of what was it. None of them knows about Lebanon or Angola"

"Keep it that way for now"

"Alicia"

"I know, just...let me rescue my cousin and have proofs about this traitor, then I'll tell them myself"

"Fine, but if you don't, I will. They need to know before it happens again"

Alicia nodded and sighed tiredly, but chugged the cold tea in a second before standing up. While she left the room, she threw the old dog tags towards Wraith, who grabbed them. Dominique got pale when she noticed the number in it, then looked at Alicia, she had lifeless eyes...the same of that day.

"And even if I don't tell them, they'll figure it out. Right now they know that something is off and Jackson has the original medical record, unfortunately, it's just a matter of time" she said as she pointed at the tags "Broken Statue will have to be desclasified sooner than any of us would like if we continue like this"

Two days later, Alicia was looking at how Luke, Noah, Elijah and Francis were packing up to go to Siberia as back up. Once again she saw Nikolai, to whom she nodded as they exchanged looks, taking her boys towards the place where they should reunite with Price and the 141. For a second the line remained silent, but soon she heard how the four of them started to report themselves as confirmation, then she used her own radio to comunicate with them before letting them go.

"Origin to Harlem, Cobalto, Delta and Viper" she called with a little smile "you copy, boys?"

"We do, Origin, loud and clear" Luke answered with a low chuckle

"Good, then I just wanted to wish you luck and tell you that this will be alright, I trust that you'll make it back. See you around, boys, take care and show that son of a bitch that he made his worst mistake"

"Will do"

"Now go"

"...Take care you too, tell Doc if you need any help" the Lieutenant told her, really worried

"I will, over and out"

Like that, she stared at the helicopter until she didn't see it anymore, then went to talk with Jackson and Edward. She left them as the ones in charge until she came back, trying to disimulate her nervousness and worries, promising that she just would be out for a day as much. And once they were preparing everything for the daily duties after confirming her, Alicia went towards Wraith, who was already waiting for her with a different car by her side.

They didn't say anything to each other, and just drove off, arriving some hours later to the place shere they needed to be. It was a beautiful house on the suburbs, that was the McAllister house and now Alicia was a bit nervous, has been a long time since the last time she talked with Artemis in person. When they knocked, an old woman opened the door, gasping surprised of watching the two woman.

"Mrs. Diana McAllister?" Wraith asked with a raised eyebrow

"That would be me" the old lady said before looking at the Captain "aren't you the lil' Sergeant that was under my Will's command at first?"

"Yes, that's me, Mrs. McAllister...has passed a long time" Alicia murmured with a little smile "how have you been?"

"Oh dear, come on in, come on in, let's talk inside! It's so good to see you again!"

They got inside the house, looking at some pictures of Artemis and his wife, even some of them with their kids. It wasn't long before they were sit in front of the old lady, who started to talk happily as both of them hear calmly. Soon they noticed that there was no trace of Artemis over there, but Alicia didn't want to ask, she had a bad feeling about it.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but perhaps you can call your husband? We need to talk with him" Wraith asked sofly, just for Diana to get sadder

"It seems like you didn't know"

"Know what?"

"My William died, in 2017, he died. It was so sudden" the old woman said, looking down "he went to do his usual things and just...died, it was a clogged arthery"

"I see, I'm sorry Diana" Alicia muttered, with wide eyes because of the surprise "I...didn't know"

"I know, Will asked in his will not to tell you, he said you'd be on a bad place" she said before sighing, smiling softly "actually he left something for you as well, want me to bring it here?"

"Yes please, that would be great"

When the old lady walked away, Alicia left the cup over the table, sighing as she put a hand over her face. Wraith looked at her, but waited for a second before the Captain spoke again.

"Artemis didn't die from natural causes" Alicia said with darkened eyes

"What? But his wife said..."

"I heard what she said, but he never had any cholesterol issues and was always really worried about it during and after his service with us"

"Maybe it changed after a decade of not seeing"

"We saw each other in 2015 for the last time, it's difficult that someone like Artemis has that kind of slope" she explained with a grimace "he always was in good health and even if he was having that...it would've been much time later"

"So you think...?"

"It's a suspicion, I'm not sure yet"

"I'll look into it, for now let's see what Cpt. McAllister left you"

Soon the old woman arrived with a sealed box, that Alicia opened after making sure it didn't have any kind of artifact attached, looking inside. It was a bunch of books, more than a hundred, all of them first editions, except for seventeen that were old and worn out journals. Alicia hold her breath for a second and closed the box again, then looking at the old woman with surprise, who only smiled quietly.

"It has been a long time..."

"He was really insistent about it, to keep it until you came here"

"I understand, thank you, Diana" she said, standing up and kissing the old lady's forehead "sorry for taking your time with this"

"Don't worry, my dear" the lady said with a chuckle "if you need help, my daugther will be happy to help you"

"I...will think about it"

Soon, the two of them walked outside the house with the box, and remained silent until they were far from there.

"Care to explain?"

"William used to write everything on journals that he always kept, all these...are his diaries since he arrived to the MC" Alicia explained while she took out all of them and start to read some pages "the last three, they probably talk about Firewall, his suspicions and more...oh shit"

"What?"

"All this is encrypted"

"That's why..."

"Yes, that explain why he left this and why his wife kept it for so long. She was an FBI agent before marrying Artemis, perhaps she knows that William's death wasn't natural"

"Oh, what a curriculum, huh? But why she mentioned her daugther? And why you looked so awkward?"

"Have you heard of Maddison McAllister?"

"Wait, the anthropology eminence?"

"She's their daugther, especialized on encrypted old texts...so probably there's a code in this"

"You...you know a lot about this family, why?"

Alicia looked away with awkwardness, and in a second Wraith joined the points, choking with laughter.

"Before or after you met Alejandro?"

"After, during the time where we broke up" she answered with some shame and a sigh "he had someone in Las Almas too, I was a Sergeant and Artemis basically put us together"

"Why did you broke up?"

"We didn't worked well together, our personalities clashed a lot...and I didn't get over Alejandro by that time"

"You never did"

"Not the fucking point!"

"Ha! Well, whatever, you're lucky we have our own code expert in Black Tomb" Wraith said with a mocking smile "let's talk with Nicholas first before recurring to your ex from all the people"

"I hate you"

"Nah, not true"

"I can identify some patterns" Nicholas murmured once they went to talked with him, looking into his notebook "there are some soviet well known codes, but also an american encryption. I can decrypt it, but the rest are some I haven't seen ever"

"So we have to go and see her" Wraith said with a mocking smile while Alicia sighed heavily

"Nicholas, pack up, we're going to New York" Alicia said pinching her nose bridge "and no, not you, Dominique, you stay here"

"Fine, fine, anyway I have other things to do" Wraith answered with a smile "good luck"

"Hmm, yes ma'am...?" Nicholas muttered a bit confused

And like that, the next day they were in New York, going to the university where they would find Maddison. While they walked towards the campus, Alicia had a headache, that would be an awkward reunion to have now. Whatever the case, she was smiling a bit as she saw how Nicholas was looking around with curiosity, just in silence.

"Are you good, Nicholas?" she asked with a side smile "are you curious?"

"A lot, but I guess that half of this is above my paycheck" he answered with a chuckle, just to sigh quietly "but I wonder how you feel, you seemed really stressed and tired. So I'm kinda worried"

"I've been...okay, sorry if I worry you, it's just something that keeps me thinking"

"If you say so, but I hope everything ends up well. We're all worried about you"

Alicia scoffed with a smile, but just ruffled Nicholas' hair as they walked to the faculty building, where everyone was filled with excitment. They had to open some path for them with pushes, arriving to a empty spot of the hall, then Alicia sighed.

"What's going on?"

"A professor is giving a lecture today" Nicholas said, pointing at a classroom "aparently a famous one, hmm, Charles Moore"

"Ah, I heard of him, I studied his books when I was preparing to became an officer" she said with a sigh, taking out one of the books she brought as bait "brilliant man, but isn't my favorite author"

"Huh, who would've said" he said with a raised eyebrow "well, maybe one day I should read those books"

"Yeah, maybe" Alicia murmured, narrowing her eyes as she looked at the picture of the professor "oh, oh shit"

"What is it?"

"Ah, nothing. Just something I remembered"

They walked towards professor McAllister's office, while the Captain wondered if she had other option, but then they knocked. Nicholas walked inside first, looking at the woman behind the desk, who smiled at him with politeness. And then Alicia walked inside as well, erasing her smile and changing it for a frown, and the environment became tense.

"Maddison" the Captain said calmly with a raised eyebrow

"Alicia" the Professor answered, coldly and frowning "so you're the one that my mother told me about, what do you want? Maybe talk about us?"

"Keep it as business, nothing else"

"Business, it always is like that with you"

"Ugh, listen, I was never cold with you, was I?" Alicia said pinching her nose bridge "the reason I'm here it's different, I'm not gonna fight with you"

"Hah, then what is it?"

"Your father's journals, my comms expert already decrypted part of it, but some other part is more on your field of expertise" she said as she put the three last journals over Maddison's desk "so your mother told me you could help"

"Of course my mom said that, and huh, you finally went for all the things my father left you" she hissed as she took the journals "but why should I help?"

"I leave that reason for you, all I need is that you decrypt it, nothing else" Alicia said shrugging her shoulders quietly

"I don't see until what point your people decrypted it"

"Here, I had it 'til this point" Nicholas intervened with a cough, leaving his notebook over the desk "I wasn't able to go foward from this point"

"...I'll wait outside, doesn't seem like I'll be useful here" Alicia said with a raised eyebrow, staring at Maddison before sighing "come talk to me when you finish, Nicholas"

"Yes Captain"

Alicia walked outside in silence, waiting on the hall as she texted to Wraith, at the same time learning about what was happening with Luke's mission. She raised an eyebrow when she learned about the package, it was the fucking General Shepherd, and right now they were in the middle of a trial. In a second, the military started to watch the transmission with her earphones, frowning when she noticed Graves as she wondered what his reaction would be.

During Shepherd's declaration in the court, her anger boiled, hearing how he tried to justify himself and his actions in Las Almas and in the Middle East. But she had to admit, to herself and maybe to Wraith, that she snickered when she heard Graves throwing the fault into Shepherd without a blink. It was true that he was a son of a bitch too, but he was better than Shepherd in some aspects, so well...she can lead with it for now.

"Huh, long time since I laughed like this" she murmured with a sad smile, then looked at her phone

She wanted to call Alejandro, talk with him and maybe ask for advice or just to hear from him, with all the stress she couldn't speak with him as much as she would like. In silence she stared at their chat, just to type a quick message and sending it before she regreted it, just waiting as she stared at the hall. It was a second, but he answered and they started to talk, at the same time a bit of the stress was lifted from her.

Alicia smiled when she read his messages, feeling a bit better, then leaving aside her phone after a while. Soon she looked at the other journals she brought with her, reading slightly one of the middle journals she inherited, staying in silence when she saw a picture. It was an old photo from her Sergeant days, where William and Oliver were beside her, all of them smiling proudly with the emblem of the 267 in front of the hangar they had in Camp Lejeune.

Then Alicia's head turned and torned the image, now one of them was dead, and Oliver blamed her, at first she was rageous...but now she thought that maybe he was right. It was her decision to accept their participation on Firewall, they died because of her, and for her.

"Captain?" Nicholas asked, startling her "are you okay? You're crying..."

"I...I'm fine" Alicia said, touching her tears with a sigh "just old memories"

"Here" he muttered giving her a handckerchief "I have the codes, if you can give me some days, then I can decrypt the diaries"

"Thanks boy, let's go. The faster we finish this, the faster everything goes back to the normal"

"Yes ma'am"

Alicia put back the diaries and everything inside the bag, then walked away with a tired sigh, followed by Nicholas. She saw two messages in her phone, and just turned it off with a sad look, work was awaiting.

'Are you okay? Even your boys have called me...they are worried for you, amor' Alejandro wrote

'Licia? You good? Luke told me you were being weird, what is it?' Nicolás wrote as well

"We can finally start the rescue mission..."

[sussex-newswire]

"When Harry took the stage at the Clinton Global Initiative on Tuesday morning, it was clear just how far he had come as a speaker and a public figure. He paced the stage, TED Talk–style, and used his personal cell phone as a visual aid. He began by discussing the Space Race, using it as an extended metaphor for the unforeseen effects that technology can have on our politics. Compared to the uplifting yet somewhat hesitant speeches he used to give five years ago, the prince was brimming with purpose when talking about Big Tech.

"'Our laws and regulations are different state-to-state, country-to-country—we may have different backgrounds, viewpoints, beliefs, and even access to the internet itself. But the one thing we can universally agree on is the safety of our children,' he said. 'So why, why do the leaders of these insanely powerful social media companies still refuse to change? Why are we holding them to the lowest ethical standards? In any other circumstance, a business would commit all resources to fixing the bug.'

"Unlike the trip to Nigeria or their August trip to Colombia—where Harry and Meghan spent a few days with the country’s vice president and got in a few cultural experiences—the duke’s multiday trip to Manhattan was all business. In under 72 hours, he packed in at least seven events with a handful of his charities, some of which have counted him as a patron for more than a decade. He gave prepared remarks at most of the events, which meant he was switching gears from subjects ranging from youth empowerment to minefields and conflict to the climate impacts of travel to the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis in Southern Africa at the drop of the hat.

"Rather than focusing on the climate specifically, the trip was an opportunity for Harry to shine a spotlight on the teams that have helped him carry out his grand charitable plans. He was the headliner on Tuesday when the sustainable travel coalition Travalyst, which he founded in 2019, celebrated its fifth anniversary with a panel discussion and cocktail reception.

"On Monday, he celebrated the successes that the HALO Trust has had in demining Angola following the country’s devastating 26-year civil war, work that began with the support of Princess Diana in the final years of her life. He spoke about his 2019 visit to the same former minefield as his mother, in front of an audience that included three of the nonprofit’s current Angolan frontline workers.

...

"In a UN event with King Letsie III and Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho on Tuesday, Harry explained why he is interested in talking about a range of issues in partnership with a variety of organizations across the world. 'Today we have gathered here in New York, a city known for its diversity and progress and whose example teaches us the importance of inclusion,' he said. 'Diverse perspectives, experiences and voices are crucial if we are going to forge a more equitable world. Partnerships are therefore fundamental to delivering change. Whether we’re addressing the changing climate and its effects on food security, advocating for children’s rights, or tackling the HIV epidemic, we cannot do it alone.'

...

"Harry and Meghan have always been more project-driven than his Windsor family relatives, a quality which was previously met with skepticism and some disdain from the palace staff. 'You can say what you want about Meghan, but she works incredibly hard,' an insider told Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl in 2020, months after their royal exit. 'The problem is she and Harry have a tendency to hatch big projects over dinner and expect them to be actioned within days.' It’s now been four years since they started their Archewell Foundation, and in his whirlwind trip, Harry’s charity appearances made the implicit argument that he has a lot to show for his years outside of the palace."

[aurumacadicus]

It's that time of month again, friends! And for June, we're doing something special: Queer-themed books, both a fiction and non-fiction selection! We'll be reading both over the course of five weeks. Tumblr will vote, and the book club will then vote among the top three in Discord. If you'd like to join the book club, send me a message and I'll send you a link to the discord! Keep an eye out for the other poll, and check out the books' summaries under the cut!

(Note: Moby Dyke's full title was too long for the poll option. The full title is Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in America by Krista Burton.)

Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Kit Heyam

A groundbreaking global history of gender nonconformity

Today’s narratives about trans people tend to feature individuals with stable gender identities that fit nearly into the categories of male or female. Those stories, while important, fail to account for the complex realities of many trans people’s lives.

Before We Were Trans illuminates the stories of people across the globe, from antiquity to the present, whose experiences of gender have defied binary categories. Blending historical analysis with sharp cultural criticism, trans historian and activist Kit Heyam offers a new, radically inclusive trans history, chronicling expressions of tans experience that are often overlooked, like gender-nonconforming fashion and wartime stage performance. Before We Were Trans transports us from Renaissance Venice to seventeenth-century Angola, from Edo Japan to early America, and looks to the past to uncover new horizons for possible trans futures.

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

Distant and exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her family referred to as the “Fun Home.” It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay. A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve.

In her hands, personal history becomes a work of amazing subtlety and power, written with controlled force and enlivened with humor, rich literary allusion, and heartbreaking detail.

Dinner on Monster Island: Essays by Tania de Rozario

In this unusual, engaging, and intimate collection of personal essays, Lambda Literary Award finalist Tania De Rozario recalls growing up as a queer, brown, fat girl in Singapore, blending memoir with elements of history, pop culture, and horror films, and current events to explore the nature of monsters and what it means to be different.

Tania De Rozario was just twelve years old when she was gay-exorcised. Convinced that her boyish style and demeanor were a sign of something wicked, her mother and a pair of her church friends tried to “banish the evil” from Tania. That day, the young girl realized that monsters weren’t just found in horror tales. They could lurk anywhere—including in your own family and community—and look just like you. Dinner on Monster Island is Tania’s memoir of her life and childhood in Singapore—where she discovered how difference is often perceived as deviant, damaged, disobedient, and sometimes, demonic. As she pulls back the veil on life on the small island, she reveals that sometimes kind, sometimes monstrous side of all of us. Intertwined with her experiences is an analysis of the role of women in horror. Tania looks at films and popular culture such as Carrie, The Witch, and The Ring to illuminate the ways in which women are often portrayed as monsters, and how in real life, monsters are not what we think.

Moving and lyrical, written with earnest candor, and leavened with moments of humor and optimism, Dinner on Monster Island is a deeply personal examination of one woman's experience grappling with her identity and a fantastic analysis of monsters, monstrous women, and the worlds in which they live.

Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in America by Krista Burton

A former Rookie contributor and creator of the popular blog Effing Dykes investigates the disappearance of America’s lesbian bars by visiting the last few in existence.

Lesbian bars have always been treasured safe spaces for their customers, providing not only a good time but a shelter from societal alienation and outright persecution. In 1987, there were 206 of them in America. Today, only a couple dozen remain. How and why did this happen? What has been lost—or possibly gained—by such a decline? What transpires when marginalized communities become more accepted and mainstream?

In Moby Dyke, Krista attempts to answer these questions firsthand, venturing on an epic cross-country pilgrimage to the last few remaining dyke bars. Her pilgrimage includes taking in her first drag show since the onset of the pandemic at The Back Door in Bloomington, Indiana; competing in dildo races at Houston’s Pearl Bar; and, despite her deep-seated hatred of karaoke, joining a group serenade at Nashville’s Lipstick Lounge and enjoying the dreaded pastime for the first time in her life.

While Burton sets out on the excursion to assess the current state of lesbian bars, she also winds up examining her own personal journey, from coming out to her Mormon parents to recently marrying her husband, a trans man whose presence on the trip underscores the important conversation about who precisely is welcome in certain queer spaces—and how they and their occupants continue to evolve.

Moby Dyke is an insightful and hilarious travelogue that celebrates the kind of community that can only be found in windowless rooms soundtracked by Britney Spears-heavy playlists and illuminated by overhead holiday lights no matter the time of year.

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. And the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears.

Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler

A queer, mixed race writer in a largely white, male field, science and conservation journalist Sabrina Imbler has always been drawn to the mystery of life in the sea, and particularly to creatures living in hostile or remote environments. Each essay in their debut collection profiles one such creature, including:

-the mother octopus who starves herself while watching over her eggs,

-the Chinese sturgeon whose migration route has been decimated by pollution and dams,

-the bizarre, predatory Bobbitt worm (named after Lorena),

-the common goldfish that flourishes in the wild,

-and more.

Imbler discovers that some of the most radical models of family, community, and care can be found in the sea, from gelatinous chains that are both individual organisms and colonies of clones to deep-sea crabs that have no need for the sun, nourished instead by the chemicals and heat throbbing from the core of the Earth. Exploring themes of adaption, survival, sexuality, and care, and weaving the wonders of marine biology with stories of their own family, relationships, and coming of age, How Far the Light Reaches is a shimmering, otherworldly debut that attunes us to new visions of our world and its miracles.

Gay Bar: Why We Went Out by Jeremy Atherton Lin

As gay bars continue to close at an alarming rate, a writer looks back to find out what’s being lost in this intimate, stylish, and indispensable celebration of queer history.

Strobing lights and dark rooms; throbbing house and drag queens on counters; first kisses, last call: the gay bar has long been a place of solidarity and sexual expression—whatever your scene, whoever you’re seeking. But in urban centers around the world, they are closing, a cultural demolition that has Jeremy Atherton Lin wondering: What was the gay bar? How have they shaped him? And could this spell the end of gay identity as we know it?

In Gay Bar, the author embarks upon a transatlantic tour of the hangouts that marked his life, with each club, pub, and dive revealing itself to be a palimpsest of queer history. In prose as exuberant as a hit of poppers and dazzling as a disco ball, he time-travels from Hollywood nights in the 1970s to a warren of cruising tunnels built beneath London in the 1770s; from chichi bars in the aftermath of AIDS to today’s fluid queer spaces; through glory holes, into Crisco-slicked dungeons and down San Fransisco alleys. He charts police raids and riots, posing and passing out—and a chance to encounter one restless night that would change his life forever. The journey that emerges is a stylish and nuanced inquiry into the connection between place and identity—a tale of liberation, but one that invites us to go beyond the simplified Stonewall mythology and enter lesser-known battlefields in the struggle to carve out a territory. Elegiac, randy, and sparkling with wry wit, Gay Bar is at once a serious critical inquiry, a love story and an epic night out to remember.

[transbookoftheday]

Before We Were Trans by Kit Heyam

Across the world today, people of all ages are doing fascinating, creative, messy things with gender. These people have a rich history - but one that is often left behind by narratives of trans lives that focus on people with stable, binary, uncomplicated gender identities. As a result, these stories tend to be recent, binary, stereotyped, medicalised and white.

Before We Were Trans is a new and different story of gender, that seeks not to be comprehensive or definitive, but - by blending culture, feminism and politics - to widen the scope of what we think of as trans history by telling the stories of people across the globe whose experience of gender has been transgressive, or not characterised by stability or binary categories.

Transporting us from Renaissance Venice to seventeenth-century Angola, from Edo Japan to North America, the stories this book tells leave questions and resist conclusions. They are fraught with ambiguity, and defy modern Western terminology and categories - not least the category of 'trans' itself. But telling them provides a history that reflects the richness of modern trans reality more closely than any previously written.

[3rdeyeblaque]

On July 12th we venerate Gullah Jack Pritchard on the 201st anniversary of his passing 🕊

Gullah Jack was a the powerful Conjure Man & priest with "long whiskers" who stood beside Denmark Vesey as the brawn to his brains in conspiring to pull off the greatest slave revolt in the history of the U.S.

Born in Angola, Gullah Jack was a powerful Conjure Man before he was captured in Zanzibar. There he was sold into Slavery & shipped to the Kingsley Plantation in Florida. He successfully escaped under the guise of a Seminole raid on the plantation in 1812. Gullah presumably lived among the Seminole until 1821, when he was recaptured & resold into Slavery in Charleston, S.C. where he was forced to work on the docks of a shipbuilder. Due to his skilled labor & conjure work, Gullah was able to live off the property of his slaver & hire out his spare time in the city.

In Charleston, he became a well respected priest & a notable member of an Afrikan church in the Hampstead neighborhood of the city. He fixed mojos & charms to protect his congregates from White folk. His spiritual authority, notable physical appearance (said to have "long whiskers") & connections with the church afforded him great influence & respect in the "Black" community of the area; among both the enslaved & freefolk.

It wasn't long before he crossed paths with Denmark Vesey in 1817. The only other man's influence in the community to rival Vesey's was Gullah Jack. Because of this in addition to his heritage & life story, Vesey petitioned Gullah to join his cause in plotting THE most sophisticated & comprehensive slave revolt in U.S. History. Gullah did; he recruited many Afrikan brothers as soldiers in arms & silenced non-participants with fear of his spiritual wrath. Gullah worked tirelessly to arm their soldiers with protective hands, charms, etc. He also performed elaborate initiation rituals to cement the loyalties of new recruits to their cause. He worked closely with Vesey on a number of complex schemes; from poisoning the city water supply to laying seige to the city's armory.

Of course, things did not go as planned when several enslaved non-conspirators informed their Slavers of Vesey's plan. A number of deserters flipped on Gullah & Vesey, outing Gullah as a Conjure Man & thereby blaming him and his power over them for their actions in joining the cause. Vesey & Gullah evaded arrest for days after the trial into the conspiracy began. Vesey was captured on June 22nd. Though Gullah & others plotted to free him, they were unsuccessful. Gullah was captured on July 5th, one day before another conspiracy was set to begin. He was sentenced to death by hanging, which was carried out July 12th 1822.

We pour libations💧& give him 💐 today as we celebrate him for his dauntless courage in the face of exacerbated odds, his many protective works, & initiatory blessings/service; all for the love of our people & our freedom.

Offering suggestions: prayers toward his elevation, libations of water, Methodist bible, & protection charms

‼️Note: offering suggestions are just that & strictly for veneration purposes only. Never attempt to conjure up any spirit or entity without proper divination/Mediumship counsel.‼️

[soulmusicsongs]

Female Soul in 26 songs

Female Soul Music

Angel - Aretha Franklin (Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky), 1973)

Are You Fooling? - Lil Gray (Are You Fooling? / I Want To Tell You Something Blues, 1965)

Blues Get Off My Shoulder - Dee Clark (How About That / Blues Get Off My Shoulder, 1959)

Chains Of Love - Esther Marrow (Newport News, Virginia, 1970)

Dead - Cresa Watson (Dead / Alpine Winter, 1969)

Don’t Send Nobody Else - Millie Jackson ‎(It Hurts So Good, 1973)

A Girl’s Tears - Alice Thomas (I’m Coming Home / A Girl’s Tears, 1970)

I Just Love You - Belita Woods (I Just Love You /Who’s Fooling Who, 1973)

If I Ever Needed Love - Jean Stanback (I Still Love You / If I Ever Needed Love, 1967)

I’m A Woman - Christine Kittrell (It’s Nobody’s Fault / I’m A Woman, 1962)

I’m Coming Home - Alice Thomas (I’m Coming Home / A Girl’s Tears, 1970)

I Still Love You So - Judy Green (I Still Love You So / Face To Face, 1972)

Love King Jesus - Cora Bell Watkins (The Word Of God / Love King Jesus, 1973)

Loving You Is Mellow (Part 1) - Kitty & The Haywoods (Loving You Is Mellow (Part 1) / Loving You Is Mellow (Part 2), 1975)

N'Zambi - Lilly Tchiumba (N'Zambi É Deus, 1973) - Angola

Put A Lotta Lovin To It - Lolita And The Exotics (Too, Too Good To Be True / Put A Lotta Lovin To It, 1969)

Reborn - Marilyn Barbarin And The Soul Finders (Reborn / Believe Me, 1970)

Right’s Alright - Rose Banks (Rose, 1976)

That's The Way It Goes - Elaine Armstrong (That's The Way It Goes, 1968

Sad Song - Amanda Ambrose (Laughing, 1973)

Take Another Look - Teresa Graves ‎(Teresa Graves, 1970)

Take Me I’m Yours - Debra Powell (Take Me I’m Yours / Hear My Plea, 1980)

This Empty Place - Dionne Warwick (Presenting Dionne Warwick, 1963)

This World Today Is A Mess - Donna Hightower ‎(This World Today Is A Mess, 1972)

Who Do You Want To Love - Brenda Mathis (Leaving You / Who Do You Want To Love, 1976)

You Can Only Do Wrong So Long - Tommie Young ‎(Do You Still Feel The Same Way, 1973)

More Soul Music

Female Soul in 25 songs

Female Soul, Part 2

Female Soul in 50 songs

Feminist Soul Music: 10 songs  

[mariacallous]

Why have so many of the iconic revolutions of modern times ended in bloody tragedies? And what lessons can be drawn from these failures today, in a world where political extremism is on the rise and rational reform based on moderation and compromise often seems impossible to achieve? In You Say You Want a Revolution?, Daniel Chirot examines a wide range of right- and left-wing revolutions around the world—from the late eighteenth century to today—to provide important new answers to these critical questions.

From the French Revolution of the eighteenth century to the Mexican, Russian, German, Chinese, anticolonial, and Iranian revolutions of the twentieth, Chirot finds that moderate solutions to serious social, economic, and political problems were overwhelmed by radical ideologies that promised simpler, drastic remedies. But not all revolutions had this outcome. The American Revolution didn’t, although its failure to resolve the problem of slavery eventually led to the Civil War, and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe was relatively peaceful, except in Yugoslavia. From Japan, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cambodia to Algeria, Angola, Haiti, and Romania, You Say You Want a Revolution? explains why violent radicalism, corruption, and the betrayal of ideals won in so many crucial cases, why it didn’t in some others—and what the long-term prospects for major social change are if liberals can’t deliver needed reforms.

A powerful account of the unintended consequences of revolutionary change, You Say You Want a Revolution? is filled with critically important lessons for today’s liberal democracies struggling with new forms of extremism.

[inkmaze]

found this cool looking book at the library! blurb below:

Before We Were Trans: A new history of gender. By Kit Heyam.

Across the world today, people of all ages are doing fascinating, creative, messy things with gender. These people have a rich history- but one that is often left behind by narratives of trans lives that focus on people with stable, binary, uncomplicated gender identities.

Before We Were Trans is a vital re-examination of gender, that seeks not to be comprehensive or definitive, but- by blending cultural criticism, feminism and politics- to widen the scope of what we think of as trans history. Transporting us from early modern Venice to seventeeth-century Angola, from Edo Japan to First World War internment camps, the people in this book show us that we have always been challenging gender. Their narratives are fraught with ambiguity- but telling their stories provides a history that reflects the richness of modern trans reality.

Before We Were Trans is a history and celebration of gender in all its fluidity, ambiguity and complexity.

[ausetkmt]

The Negro Fort (Florida), a story - African American Registry

The Negro Fort (Florida), a story

Arial Drawing

*The Negro Fort is celebrated on November 13, 1814.  Also known as Fort Gadsden and the Prospect Bluff Historic Site, it is located in Franklin County, Florida. 

It was constructed on the Apalachicola River, 6 miles SW of Sumatra, Florida. The British built the site during the War of 1812.   After the British evacuated Florida in 1815, they allowed the members of the disbanded Corps of Colonial Marines to occupy it, deliberately leaving their munitions behind.  Since the British had not named it, Americans started referring to it as Negro Fort. It was destroyed in a river attack by U.S. forces in 1816. 

The Florida panhandle was mostly wilderness before 1814. Its population at the time is unknown, except for isolated reports. Like the rest of Florida, many Native American refugees from the United States merged into a new ethnicity, Seminoles. It provided excellent cover for escaped slaves, who, since they shared a common enemy, got along with the Seminoles fairly well; "over time, a bond developed between escaped Africans and the Seminoles that only increased with time and white pressure for their return."  Some became Black Seminoles. There was "reciprocal respect and affection"; the former slaves, who knew English, served as interpreters.  This predecessor of the Underground Railroad ran south.  

The biggest issue about the area discussed by whites was how to get escaped slaves back or compensation for them and prevent or reduce future escapes. The return of Native Americans was unwanted, and they were soon forcibly removed from Florida as well.   As was customary before railroads, settlement took place first along rivers. The name Apalachicola derives from the Apalachee who settled along it before colonial invasions. Settlement at Prospect Bluff by maroons (escaped slaves and their descendants), Seminoles, and a few Europeans are documented at the end of the eighteenth century.  

When the British withdrew, they deliberately left all their weapons, hoping the locals would use them to defend themselves from the U.S. attempts to re-enslave them, just as African and Native Americans had assisted the British during the American War of Independence.  Some of the Native Americans (Seminoles and Red Stick Creeks) left; they had more options than the escaped slaves because there were Native American communities in Florida they could go to, and no one was looking for them; there was no other community of maroons closer than Angola, Florida. Some remained, along with many of the trained soldiers of the disbanded Corps of Colonial Marines, a British Army regiment of freed slaves. Over the next year, the fort became a growing colony of escaped slaves from Georgia and the Mississippi Territory and became known as the Negro Fort.  

It was the center of North America's largest community of free Blacks before the American Civil War.  The fort, located as it was near the border, was seen by the U.S. as "a beacon of light to restless and rebellious slaves," "a center of hostility and above all a threat to the security of their slaves," "a direct threat to the slave-holding interests rapidly flocking to the newly opened lands in what is today Mississippi and Alabama."  On April 8, 1816, General Andrew Jackson ordered General Gaines to "take care of the situation" because the Fort "ought to be blown up"; it was only fomenting "rapine and plunder," and he should "return the stolen Negros and plunder to their rightful owners." On April 23, he complained to the West Florida military governor, Mauricio de Zúñiga.  

On May 26, 1816, the governor told Jackson that he could not act; Jackson then proceeded with his plans to destroy the Fort.   On July 27, 1816, American forces entered the opening to the fort's powder magazine, igniting an explosion that was heard more than 100 miles away in Pensacola, and destroyed the fort, killing all but 30 of 300 occupants.  It has been called "the single deadliest cannon shot in American history." It was also "the largest battle in history between fugitive slaves and U.S. forces seeking to re-enslave them." The trading post of John Forbes and Company, storekeeper Edward Doyle, was reestablished following the fort's destruction. 

Fort Gadsden was built in 1818 within the former walls of the former Negro Fort.  The site has been known by several other names, including Fort Blount, African Fort, and Fort Apalachicola.  Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Prospect Bluff Historic Site is located in the Apalachicola National Forest and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The process of memorializing the site began in 1961, when Florida acquired a parcel of 78 acres (32 ha), including the location.

Ownership was later transferred to the federal government and named a National Historic Landmark in 1972.  The site contains an explanatory kiosk with artifacts, a picnic area with a pavilion, grills, and restrooms.  Four historical markers are Fort Gadsden, British Fort Magazine, Steamship Tragedy, and "Millie Francis." There is no marker for the Negro Fort.   

[lboogie1906]

August 1, 1619, “20 and odd” Angolans, kidnapped by the Portuguese, arrive in the British colony of Virginia and are then bought by English colonists. The arrival of enslaved Africans in the New World marks the beginning of two and a half centuries of slavery in North America.

Founded at Jamestown in 1607, the Virginia Colony was home to about 700 people by 1619. The first enslaved Africans to arrive there disembarked at Point Comfort, in what is today known as Hampton Roads. Most of their names, as well as the exact number who remained at Point Comfort, have been lost to history, but much is known about their journey.

They were kidnapped by Portuguese colonial forces, who sent captured members of the native Kongo and Ndongo kingdoms on a forced march to the port of Luanda, the capital of modern-day Angola. From there, they were ordered on the slave ship San Juan Bautista, which set sail for Veracruz in the colony of New Spain. As was quite common, about 150 of the 350 captives aboard the ship died during the crossing.. Αs it approached its destination, the ship was attacked by two privateer ships, the White Lion and the Treasurer. Crews from the two ships stole up to 60 of the Bautista’s ενslaveδ. It was the White Lion that docked at Virginia Colony's Point Comfort and traded some of the prisoners for food on August 20, 1619. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[carltonortiz]

Unlocking Global Opportunities: Portuguese Translation Services for Seamless Communication

Introduction:

In today's interconnected world, effective communication is the key to success, especially in the realm of business and international relations. As businesses expand globally, the need for accurate and reliable translation services has become more crucial than ever. Among the plethora of languages spoken worldwide, Portuguese stands out as a prominent one, with its significance spanning across continents. In this article, we delve into the realm of Portuguese translation services, exploring the importance of expert translation in bridging linguistic barriers and unlocking new opportunities.

Portuguese Translation: Expert Translation Services

Why Portuguese Translation Matters?

Portuguese, with over 260 million speakers worldwide, is not only the official language of Portugal but also holds significant status in countries like Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, and several others. Its widespread usage in international trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange makes it a pivotal language for global communication.

The Complexity of Portuguese Language

Portuguese, like any language, comes with its nuances, dialects, and cultural variations. From European Portuguese with its distinctive accents and vocabulary to Brazilian Portuguese with its regional differences, navigating through these intricacies requires a deep understanding of the language and its cultural context. Expert translators possess the linguistic prowess to accurately convey the message while preserving the tone and intent behind the text.

Ensuring Accuracy and Cultural Sensitivity

Effective translation goes beyond mere linguistic conversion; it involves cultural adaptation and sensitivity. A word-for-word translation may not always capture the essence of the message, leading to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. Expert translators are adept at not only translating the words but also conveying the cultural nuances embedded within the text, ensuring that the message resonates with the target audience.

Conclusion:

In a world where borders are increasingly becoming blurred, the demand for expert translation services, especially in languages like Portuguese, continues to rise. Whether it's expanding businesses into new markets, reaching out to diverse audiences, or fostering international collaborations, accurate and culturally sensitive translation plays a pivotal role in driving success. By investing in expert Portuguese translation services, businesses can break down linguistic barriers, foster meaningful connections, and unlock a world of opportunities.

[s4g2]

Crafting Digital Bridges Across Borders: S4G2 Marketing Agency's Global SEO and Web Design Symphony

In a digital epoch where boundaries are increasingly blurred, the art of connecting brands to diverse global audiences is more nuanced than ever. S4G2 Marketing Agency, with its roots firmly planted in India's rich technological and cultural soils, stands at the forefront of this global digital renaissance, offering bespoke SEO and web design services that transcend geographical confines.

India's Digital Ingenuity Meets Global Ambitions

India, a land steeped in history yet surging towards the future, shapes our unique perspective. It’s from this vibrant confluence of tradition and innovation that we draw our strength, enabling us to tailor our services to a myriad of international markets, from the cobbled streets of Europe to the soaring skylines of North America.

Designing Digital Dreams Across Continents

European Elegance Meets Digital Precision: Crafting digital experiences for the European market means balancing timeless aesthetics with modern functionality. Whether it's the rustic charm of Greece or the sleek sophistication of Sweden, our strategies resonate with each nation's heart and soul.

The North American Digital Frontier: In the USA and Canada, where trends are born and competition is fierce, our strategies are all about cutting-edge technology and innovation, ensuring businesses stand out in a saturated market.

Asia's Diverse Digital Spectrum: The Asian market, with its blend of ancient cultures and burgeoning tech scenes, requires a delicate, informed approach. From the bustling markets of India to the tech hubs of Hong Kong and Singapore, we weave SEO and design strategies that reflect each region's unique digital narrative.

Africa's Rising Digital Wave: With rapidly growing internet penetration, countries like South Africa and Nigeria are ripe with digital opportunities. Our strategies here are mobile-centric, accessible, and tailored to tap into the continent's immense potential.

S4G2's Global Digital Mantra

Culturally Fluent Strategies: Our ability to craft strategies that speak the local language, metaphorically and literally, sets us apart, making us a preferred partner for businesses looking to connect with diverse audiences.

Affordable, World-Class Service: India's competitive edge in technology allows us to offer services that are both high-quality and cost-effective, a rare combination in the global market.

Customized Digital Journeys: We don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Each project is a new story, and we ensure it's told in a way that aligns perfectly with the client’s vision and market demands.

Your Gateway to Global Digital Success with S4G2

Navigating the complex seas of global digital marketing requires a skilled and knowledgeable partner. At S4G2 Marketing Agency, we're more than just service providers; we're digital storytellers, cultural translators, and your gateway to global success.

Embark on your journey to digital excellence with us. With S4G2, your brand isn’t just visible; it’s memorable, impactful, and globally resonant.

Connect with us today, and let's start scripting your global success story, one digital milestone at a time.

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[because-its-eurovision]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last ten people who reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals & followers!! <3

Not in any order:

Crisp autumn mornings like the one we had today, when the sky is clear and sun is warm but the wind makes everything feel fresh and the leaves are starting to turn yellow and red and everything is colourful and nice 🍂

Movies and film festivals! The tickets to Helsinki International Film Festival came on sale today, and there are tens of interesting films I'd like to see and it's always so exciting to see ones that are from new countries, and go see stuff that was made in Angola or China or Romania or Venezuela or Georgia or Greenland or Morocco or wherever <3

Travelling, especially hanging out at airports and railway stations and seeing all the departures and thinking about the possibilities of where I could go, and finding the right gate or platform and holding the ticket and seeing the views change and the feeling of freedom that comes with it!

Organizing stuff, especially papers or documents or books chronologically or alphaphetically or by numbers is so satisfying. Also when you go through a messy closet or shelf and clean it and have new storage boxes and then you can just organize everything into them and it looks neat?? Best feeling ever.

Sometimes when I have the day off in the middle of the week or even better, an opportunity to go out in the middle of the workday for an hour or two, and I can quickly go to the library or pharmacy or bookstore or whatever, and even if it's all allowed it gives the rush like I'm skipping class at school (which I never did) and has the undertone of sneaky freedom and rebellion

[newsbites]

News from Africa, 19 June

Hage Geingob will host Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and Dutch PM Mark Rutte today in Namibia. Green hydrogen will reportedly be among the subjects discussed.

2. Namibia's proposed visa exemption for Chinese nationals is a bilateral agreement that would benefit both countries, according to China's ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping.

Some Namibian politicians have objected to the proposal, with opposition leader McHenry Venaani claiming it is a "hoodwinking process" for Chinese prisoners to come to the country, and aspiring presidential candidate Job Amupanda alleging that it involves a deal between the ruling party and China to garner support for next year's elections.

The proposed agreement's main goal is to attract Chinese tourists and help Namibia become competitive again after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Namibia's minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Albert Kawana.

3. Angola and Zambia signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in information technology, including digital transformation, AI, and space technology.

The agreement includes the establishment of direct cross-border optical fibre backbone connectivity between the two countries, scheduled to happen this month.

The collaboration is expected to help improve the regulation of the Angolan and Zambian telecom markets and lead to improved coverage and quality of ICT services provided in both countries.

4. Namibia is embarking on a journey of digital transformation to modernize various aspects of the country's life.

The Department of Home Affairs, Immigration and Security recently announced the successful implementation of an online passport application system, a major step towards delivering home affairs government services through digital channels. Namibia is partnering with Estonia to bring government services online and gradually prepare citizens for the transformation ahead. The Vice Minister of ICT recognizes the importance of foreign direct investment (FDI) for African technology spaces, but stresses the need for a clear roadmap or strategy to ensure that solutions developed in Africa fit the lifestyle on the continent.

5. Nigeria has 71 million people living in extreme poverty and 133 million people are classified as multidimensionally poor, according to 2023 data from the World Poverty Clock and the National Bureau of Statistics.

6. The Bank of Namibia increased the repo rate to safeguard the dollar-rand peg and contain inflationary pressures, but this will severely impact consumers who rely on debt to survive.

The governor expressed empathy for people losing their homes due to rising debt costs, and urged the nation to find better solutions to keep more Namibians in their homes while maintaining financial stability.

7. The fighting in Sudan has caused a surge in refugees fleeing to South Sudan, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The UN has called for $253 million in funding to respond to the crisis, but donations have been slow to come in.

The lack of resources and funding has led to inadequate food, water, and sanitation facilities in transit camps, resulting in malnutrition, disease, and preventable deaths.

[biglisbonnews]

Netflix releases a new docuseries on African Queens Queen Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba—now present-day Angola—has just made her debut on Netflix’s new series African Queens released today, which will highlight the stories of prominent African female rulers.Read more... https://qz.com/netflix-releases-a-new-docuseries-on-african-queens-1850116840