#Queer Rights

[tigergingicat]

This paragraph defines my straight husband, ally to our nonbinary child:

Yes, there will be people who genuinely love and accept you. Those people are worth all the frustration of the rest, thankfully, and they're the ones who love you in a pup mask or a leather harness and a neon jock like the ones sold by the men up the row from us last weekend. They're the ones who laugh out loud when you tell them you hid the word "dyke" in your company name, the ones who love you in all your messiness and uncertainty and the way you don't fit into neat boxes all scrubbed up and clean.

Thank you @vaspider .

Pete Buttigieg is just a faggot.

It's very important to me that younger queers understand this: to the people who you're trying to be more respectable for when you say things like neopronouns set the trans movement back or you're why the cishets don't accept us or including [aces/bi people with the 'wrong kind' of partners/non-binary people/kinksters/non-passing trans ppl/furries/polyam people] just hurts us, can't you wait until we get all our rights before we talk about some of yours? -- to those people? Pete Buttigieg is just a fag.

On Sunday at Pride Northwest, some kids -- late teens, early 20s -- asked what our button I survived Reagan for this? meant. All of the queer adults at the tables making up our ad hoc counter looked at each other and sighed a little. Emet and another adult started to explain the way that the Reagan Administration handled -- or didn't handle -- the beginning of the AIDS crisis. How many people died. How much we were ignored. The Ashes Action. The Time Magazine article which explicitly blamed bisexual men for passing the pandemic to the cishet community, playing on all the worst stereotypical bullshit. The way that even when the CDC started paying attention, they were so focused on gay men that they ignored AIDS in the lesbian community, leading to the "women don't get AIDS, they just die from it" poster. And so on.

I finished counting out change and passed the last Bear Pride raised fist pin over to a bear a little older than me, then turned my head and interjected, "they didn't care until it started infecting more than just the fags." I turned my head back and handed him his change. He laughed bitterly and said, "remember when they called it 'gay cancer?'"

That what I need you to understand. The people for whom you are folding yourself into smaller and smaller boxes will never see you as anything but a freak. A queer. A dyke. A tranny. A fag.

Never.

These are people who will stand by and let you wither away and die alone, gasping for breath in a cinderblock room, and not even claim your ashes, and they will say you deserve it, because of your lifestyle. If they speak of you at all it will be by the wrong name, with the pictures you hate the most. They will curse at your lover, throw him out of the home you shared, and steal the gift you gave last Christmas to throw it in the trash just so he can't have it and they'll say Jesus loves you! while they do it. They'll feel good and righteous and blessed and holy and pure for doing it.

And for them, you spit in the eye of your sister. For them, you disavow your sibling. For their sake, you trim away bits of your heart and lace yourself up tight. Never too loud. Never too queer. Never inconvenient or embarrassing, never asking for too much.

Pete Buttigieg is what happens when your Boomer dad turns out gay. Middle America. Parents still married. Suburban-sprouted. Valedictorian. Harvard-educated. Rhodes Scholarship. Military service. More power to him: I hope he and Chasten are very happy together. Genuinely, I do.

You couldn't create a more respectable gay if you grew one in a lab run by concerned voter focus groups.

But Pete Buttigieg? Is just a fag.

That's the part you don't seem to get: when they abandoned us, they abandoned all of us. Rock Hudson was a beloved movie star and even personally friendly with that horrid pair of ambitious jackals. Nancy Reagan refused to help him get into the only place in the world that could treat him at the time, and he died.

It was 1985, 4 years after the CDC first released papers on what would eventually become known as HIV/AIDS and 7 years after the first known death from an infection from HIV-2. Reagan hadn't even said the word AIDS by the time Hudson died.

Pete Buttigieg is just a fag, and so am I. Unless I'm a dyke, which seems to depend on who's yelling what from which window and what day it is.

Yes, there will be people who genuinely love and accept you. Those people are worth all the frustration of the rest, thankfully, and they're the ones who love you in a pup mask or a leather harness and a neon jock like the ones sold by the men up the row from us last weekend. They're the ones who laugh out loud when you tell them you hid the word "dyke" in your company name, the ones who love you in all your messiness and uncertainty and the way you don't fit into neat boxes all scrubbed up and clean.

Most cishets, though... well, they don't actively mean you specifically any harm, at least not when they have to look at you. Not when you're right there in front of them. Maybe they'll be okay with you, personally, especially if you're the kind of gay who makes a good rhetorical device, and as long as you remain a good rhetorical device.

They need people to know that they don't have a problem with the gays, after all, and there you are, being all convenient. You make a nice token, and as long as you do, well. You're useful.

But they call you by your deadname when you're not around, and they put the wrong pronouns in your medical record even though they met you years after you came out, and they won't put themselves out to save you. Not one little bit.

I didn't want to be here again. The year I graduated from high school was the worst year of the AIDS crisis. The world into which I became an adult was a world in which an advisor and friend to Reagan, William F. Buckley, openly advocated for forcibly tattooing the HIV status of HIV+ gay men on their buttocks (and IV drug users on their forearms), and in which my father not only told me that when I was 14 or so, but when was told me that he'd advocated for that tattoo being "over their assholes."

(Buckley wrote that in '86, but he doubled down on it in 2005.

Fucker.)

But yeah. I didn't want to be here again. I wanted my daughter to inherit a better world. I wanted Obergefell and Lawrence v. Texas and Hope & Change to really mean something. I work for it, today and all days. I haven't given up.

I need you to know that, too. This isn't a white flag. I'm not surrendering. This isn't over. To misquote Henry Rollins, this is what Marsha and Sylvia and Stormé and Leslie and Brenda and Auntie Sugar trained us for. This is punk rock time.

But I need you to understand that if Pete Buttigieg is just a fag, if that human embodiment of a Wonder Bread, mayo and Oscar Meyer bologna sandwich is not respectable enough for them -- and he's not -- then the rest of us have absolutely no hope of measuring up. Not even if we trim away every colorful, beautiful piece of our community, not even if the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence vanish into the ether, not even if we sacrifice the five elements of vogue on the altar of white supremacist cishet middle-class conformity: we can't trim ourselves down to something they'll accept.

The only other option is radical acceptance of our queer selves. The only other option is solidarity. The only other option is for fats and femme queens and drags and kinksters and queers and zine writers and sex workers and furries and addicts and kids and the ones who can look us in the eye and see all of us to say we're here, we're queer, get used to it just the way we did 30 years ago. It's revolutionary, complete and total acceptance of our entire community, not just the ones the cishets can pretend to be comfortable with as long as we don't challenge them too much, or it's conceding the shoreline inch by inch to the rising waters of fascism until we've got nowhere left to stand and some of us start drowning.

That's it. Either it's all of us or it's none of us, because if we leave the answer up to the Reagans of the world and all the people who enabled him in the name of lower taxes and Democrats who wring their hands, weeping oh I don't agree with it but we'll lose the election if we fight it right now, the answer is none of us.

The brunch gays can come, too, I guess.

[lgbtqtext]

[apricotbuncakes]

So we gonna talk about this or what?

Now, WV HR6 is just a bill right now, proposed but not law. But this is what my state of West Virginia has to say about transgender people. Our representatives see us as having mental disorders, and quote the FUCKING BIBLE TO JUSTIFY THE EXISTENCE OF 'ONLY TWO SEXES'.

There are 551 anti-trans bills in the United States as of February 20th, 2025. We expect to see more. And this is how we are being talked about. We are well beyond the point of plain ignorance or misinformation. We've been facing a fucking genocide for fucking years.

This post is not meant to scare you. It's meant to make you aware of what's happening. This post isn't telling you to wallow about and give up. It's telling you to fight back in whatever way you can, even if that just means living another day.

[Images ID: Both images are screenshots from translegislation.com. They show quotes from WV HR6. The first image says: "Recognizing Transgenderism as a mental disorder and affirming the biological reality of two genders" "The biological foundation of human beings has been clear since the beginning of mankind, as described in the Holy Scriptures, which state that God created humanity in two distinct sexes, male and female, as recorded in Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them";" Transgenderism, or the condition of identifying with a gender other than the one assigned at birth, is a condition that may require psychological intervention"

The second image says: "That the West Virginia House of Delegates formally recognizes that: (1) There are only two biological sexes, male and female, and these have been the case since the beginning of human history as described in the Bible, and confirmed by modern science;" "(2) Transgenderism, understood as a conflict between one's biological sex and gender identity, is a condition that requires careful psychological evaluation and appropriate mental health care, not blind affirmation;" "The West Virginia House of Delegates encourages citizens to engage in open dialogue about these issues [...] while upholding the importance of biological reality." End ID]

[whereserpentswalk]

When I was very young and had just started thinking about the implications of trans people existing for the first time, I was contemplating their existence while playing Pokémon, and realized that somewhere out there there was a trans person playing Pokémon and enjoying themselves. And I know it's a silly thing to look back on, because I was like ten, but I think it was the first time I thought of trans people as full human beings for the first time, understanding that there was a trans person somewhere enjoying something that I was enjoying.

I don't think every 'ally' we have as a community is there yet. Like, there are people who understand how we suffer, how we are hurt or can be hurt, but they don't yet understand that we can just exist as enjoy things the same way they enjoy things.

Whatever group you're talking about you have to understand that somewhere out there one of them is playing a video game, or listening to music, or petting a cat, or standing on a line experiencing boredom, or wondering if we're alone in the universe, or witnessing a cool bug. You have to understand people's personhood goes beyond the experiences shaped by the groups that they're in.

[alwaystochocolate]

Hey Tāmaki Makaurau folks, attend this one if you can! THIS Sunday 23rd Feb, 2pm, Albert Park

❤️🧡💛💚💙🩷💜🤍🤎

Let's get out there with pride.

https://gayexpress.co.nz/2025/02/defying-destiny-queer-communities-are-taking-a-stand/

AUCKLAND — Defying Destiny: Day of Queer Power

Last weekend, Destiny Church escalated its attacks against the queer community in Auckland.

Destiny wants to drive queer New Zealanders back into the closet. PAPA won't let this happen.

We stood for queer liberation as No Pride in Prisons, and we stand for it now.

We're holding DEFYING DESTINY: DAY OF QUEER POWER this Sunday February 23 at 2pm at the Albert Park rotunda. All friends and allies of the community are welcome to join us. Let's show Destiny that they are a tiny, hateful portion of our population.

speakers

Speakers include:

Dr Emmy Rākete (PAPA),

Chlöe Swarbrick (Green Party),

Rev Muan Strickson-Pua (Tagata Pasifika Resource Centre),

and more.

demands

We will demand the government dismantle Destiny Church organisationally, deregistering all of Destiny Church's charities. We will demand that government agencies sign memoranda of understanding with Auckland Pride affirming that they will no longer refer people to Destiny Church front groups like Man Up. Finally, we will warn Destiny Church: queer people and those who love us are not defenceless victims who can be assaulted at will. We are here, we are queer, and we will stand our ground.

safety

We're prepared for the possibility that Destiny will try to show up. Trained volunteers will be present as marshalls, and we have a plan to keep our people as safe as possible. Travel in pairs or groups. Bring water, masks, and sun protection. Look out for a marshall if you need one.

We cannot let them force us back into the closet. We are stronger together than they'll ever be.

[crypt-void]

Write👏trans👏essays👏

Write them. Just do it. Write essays asking questions about trans identities in media and literature. Write them about trans history and its impacts. Write them about scientific findings on trans identities. Write them about yourself! And your own trans experiences! It's a great way to examine your own thoughts on your identity.

Right now, when so many misconceptions on trans identities are being pushed onto us, I feel like we need these resources more than ever. Even if you don't think you can write, even if you think essays are boring. You don't have to share them with anyone, but just doing the research, answering questions for yourself about our existence and history is something I feel is worthwhile.

Don't let people tell you it's too controversial or that you're pulling something out of nothing. Write the essay.

[maybe-a-crow-maybe-a-dragon]

If you're not outraged, you're not paying any fucking attention.

I want to share this here and allow it to speak for itself. I have my own opinions I would like to add but those will be a reblog in the morning.

[oldtvandcomics]

HEY GUYS!!

GUYS!!!

FRANCE HAS REACHED THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF SIGNATURES ON THE CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE AGAINST CONVERSION THERAPY IN THE EU!!

ONE COUNTRY DOWN, SIX TO GO!!

We also need still quite a few signatures in order to reach the one million required.

As to date, the six other countries with the most signatures are:

Spain - 38.72%

Finland - 30.31%

Ireland - 24.86%

Netherlands - 24.15%

Germany - 23.54%

Belgium - 23.09%

So yeah, still a long way to go, but we ARE slowly getting closer. Don't stop now! Don't let this stay within the community, either, if you have any friends or family who are open to queer rights, get them to sign, too!

[j0die101]

(April 12th 2024)

No medical confirmation or psychological evaluation necessary. The law will be active by the 1st of November this year.

First names can also be changed while changing gender. One all inclusive package with minimum effort.

[deathtokillian]

If you are trans I need you to stay alive.

Stay alive for every other trans person fighting, stay alive for every trans person who is no longer here, and most importantly stay alive for yourself.

They don’t get to erase us! They don’t get to take away our rights, and treat us as less than human. Don’t let them erase us, and don’t let them make you a statistic. Don’t let them win.

Stay alive

If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for others. Do it out of spite.

[gorkaya-trava]

so, today we, russian queers, may become "extremists" by decision of russian supreme court and thus our existence will be silenced and erased. any queer activism will be impossible for us. I don't know what to do anymore. I was heartbroken when they passed the laws about "gay propaganda" and transgender people, now I'm just numb. I don't want to escape. I just want to live safely in my own country.

please hear us.

[artemis-pendragon]

Queering the Map in Gaza and the West Bank

[boy-gender]

On top of all the other messages going on in kendricks performance, I wanted people who maybe didnt watch the game to see that not only did the people dressed in red white and blue form the US flag, but they also formed the trans flag:

The biggest celebrity in the world shouting out trans people during the biggest televised event of the year. Kendrick, the man that you are 💙🩷🤍🩷💙

[dandelionjack]

not nearly enough people are fuming about the cass review. do you understand the eventual implications? trans people in the uk will be considered children up until the age of 25, and denied HRT/surgery/even basic measures like legal name change and social transition. all owing to a biased and largely unscientific study. you know what “treatment” for gender dysphoria is recommended by the review instead? conversion therapy.

this will kill people and they know it, because they prefer us dead and out of sight. the government, the NHS and even the opposition have made this clear again and again. a twenty-five year old can have sex, get married have children, join the military, earn a living, be halfway up the corporate ladder or highly successful in their chosen career field by that age, but they can’t transition under NHS rules. this is a death sentence for trans teenagers and they are going ahead with it. it’s trans genocide, same as across the pond.

i’m so afraid for my trans siblings and our futures. i’m so scared for myself. what are we to do if not even the party that is supposed to be on the “left” gives a shit about our safety and mental health as long as they get voted in? labour have become tories with a red coat of paint. it all feels hopeless

[creature-wizard]

Since folks are exhausted from hearing about Project 2025 and Agenda 47, here are some reasons to feel hopeful about Harris

(It would be wonderful if folks could reblog this, a lot of people are feeling very discouraged right now and could use the morale boost!)

[incorrectbatfam]

You're literally gay??? And it's pride month??? And Israel's our only safe haven in that region???

There's no pride in genocide