#and ESPECIALLY with them being religious older queers

[murcielagatito]

barbara and gerald are so queerplatonic like just look at them they love eachother so much and have kids together and live together and eat cute lil lunches together that is a gay husband and his lesbian wife and they love eachother so much. like ugh <3

[n30nwrites]

Rewind (Bridgerton)

Pronouns: He/Him

Relationships: Anthony Bridgerton x Kate Sharma, Penelope Featherington x Colin Bridgerton, Benedict Bridgerton x Reader, Anthony Bridgerton x Reader, Kate Sharma x Reader, Penelope Featherington x Reader, Colin Bridgerton x Reader

Soulmate AU, Polygamy, Reader is autistic

Warnings; Mentions of homophobia? Mentions of absent parents, Christianity but the Reader doesn't believe in God, Talks of Unwanted touching, Talks about canonical child death and sickness

This is just a small excerpt because no one else will fulfill what I need because I am very much in love with the people surrounding Bridgerton. IDK if I'll continue it.

You weren't the eldest son, nor were you the youngest. A Classic middle child, having your older brothers torture you and your younger ones followed in their footsteps soon enough. But all of your siblings wanted one thing.

Your parent's attention.

Your father, The King George, was a mad men, at least he was considered one. Your mother was too busy ruling England and keeping everything picture perfect to really care about you guys.

Well you didn't really count yourself as one of your siblings.

Simply because you weren't meant to be here.

When you were first taken to this universe, you had been a babe, just freshly born. It was strange, to have full consciousness when being a young'en. The minute you could, you were walking and talking, far earlier than any other babe, but you had too.

By the time you were five, you had been considered a spectacle. The prodigal son, they claimed. You had your wits, you were respectable, truly the perfect gentleman.

You played your cards right, up until you couldn't.

Growing older meant more siblings, and you took care of them the best you could. But you hated these new rules. You couldn't be alone with a woman who wasn't a relative, your brothers were rude and loved it, and your sisters were innocent. Naive really, which you felt was a strange thing. To know about Sex but they couldn't. You tried to teach your sisters as well, education was the future.

But it was all useless.

Eventually you became a recluse. You stuck to yourself, in your room with instruments. Your English guitar, harp-lute, piano, and even the improper ones like a violin, cello and flute. You had to make the best of a situation, and that was what you did.

Even well into your adulthood, your brothers were still your biggest bullies. They thought you were a prude for never having Sex, which frankly if women couldn't without being criticized and shamed, then you shouldn't either. They said you were secretly a woman, or queer.

Well you could attest you weren't a woman, and well you kind of were queer. Bisexual, but they wouldn't know that word.

But you were brought into this universe for some odd reason. You weren't sure why, you didn't really get into Bridgerton like everyone else. Not that you were different from others, you just couldn't commit to watching a tv series, but you had seen the edits.

It just made no sense for you to be the one. It wasn't until the marks appeared that you understood.

Soulmates. That was a new adaption. Apparently they were rare, rare enough that out of all your siblings, you were the only one to have one. Your mother said it was a gift from God, though you thank she only said that because the bishop was there when you got them.

Them as in multiple, that put the bishop out of his head. He said it was blasphemous, you were too entranced with them to care. A matching soulmark would tie you to these people. 5 people.

That was a lot of people to keep happy. Especially when this century wasn't very happy with queer couples and polyamory. After that, your mother had insisted you hide them, and you weren't willing to risk a Romanov situation because people were too religious.

Your mother didn't like that you weren't religious, but she didn't bring it up again after one intense arguement that caused you to leave for a few weeks.

But you agreed with her, you wouldn't tell others. You were here to find a way out, you already had some ideas, one being a specific spot in the woods where you found something from the future.

A portable Radio/Cassette player. Wasn't that far in the future where you were, but it would work. You had headphones with it, and you finally felt some sort of sanity. Music in this era wasn't nearly as relaxing as yours was.

Keeping to yourself was easy after that. Every servant was ordered to knock on your door loudly by you, and to stop any sibling that would come your way just in case they caught you. Your servants were almost your friends, you knew they were reqired to be there, to be kind to you, but it was the closest you had to an actual relationship.

You stayed away from your mother on days like this. She's irritated, you don't know why, you don't care to ask. Your siblings are stomping around the palace but you don't move from your room, you instead walk around your room, shirtless, listening to your music. Your favorite servant, Zelena, is behind you, just watching you. She's always been touchy with you, your hair, your chest, you assumed it was just the way she communicated. And while you were uncomfortable with it, your mother had told you that you couldn't afford to be rude to people.

Zelena stayed next to you while you played the English Guitar. You knew enough about it in your old life, having made adjustments to the strings to be able to play older songs. The ones you could remember (Which you wrote down because eventually, you wouldn't.)

You ignore the knock at the door, simply nodding your head to Helena, who opens the door gently.

A gentleman is at the door, he's staring at you the minute he walks in. Like he's almost amazed at you, you didn't understand.

You never did.

He seems to look at you yet avoids eye contact. You set the instrument down to the side, gently. "Can I help you sir?"

He says your name, and you nod your head. "Can we be alone?" He asks. Your mother said it was improper to be with women alone, not men. So you nod your head and your maids walk out of the room. You figured this man was a duke or something, he had to be important considering he was in the castle. Perhaps a suitor for one of your sisters.

"My name is Benedict Bridgerton."

"Bridgerton? I've heard stories about your family before from my mother. She enjoys the drama that surrounds your family." You tell him, "Last I heard the Viscount found a wife."

"My brother, Anthony." He confirms.

"What brings you to my room?" You question. "Surely it's not to tell me about your family?"

"I just had to meet you."

"You really didn't." You frown slightly, to be fair, you knew a bit about Benedict. You weren't the biggest fan of his story, kidnapping a bride from her wedding day and tying her to a pole. It was strange, but you couldn't change the writers opinion. At least you think that was his story, TikTok could only tell you so much and it's not like you read the books.

You could only hope that it was different in the tv series, considering that's where you were right now. The actor himself you knew very little about as well, but you didn't really care for actors. You stood from the couch in your room, "Why is the artist here?"

"You know of my work?"

"I know a lot of things Sir." You take a few steps away from the couch. "Can you get to the point?"

He seems unsure now, fiddling with his fingers. "You're my soulmate" He tells you, and you look down at one of your marks.

"Which mark are you?" You question, and he looks hopeful. He pulls up his sleeve, the little feather on your wrist, in matching spots. You looked at your own and slightly traced it.

"Benedict!" The voice is angry and your door opens. You glare at the person who opened it. He didn't knock. It's Anthoyn Bridgerton, looking angry. "Benedict what are-"

"Next time Viscount I would ask that you knock instead of rudely interrupting." You cut him off, glaring at him. He seems to have brought a group of people behind him. Benedict stands up and walks right next to you. You put your hands behind your back, picking at your wrist. "It seems you've brought company." You tell Benedict.

"I was about to explain." He tells you, but you look at Anthony, more specifically behind him. You can see your mother through the crowd.

"If we must speak, we will not do it in my room." You grab Benedict's wrist, still refusing skin-to-skin, and pull him with you. Your glare causes the eldest Bridgerton to move to the side, he walks next to his wife.

Outside your room is a lot of people, it's almost overwhelming. There's the Featheringtons, really you only recognized Penelope but you knew by the yellow dress that they had to be her relatives. You could guess they were her sisters and the eldest-looking was her mother. You then saw your own mother, with what seemed like all of your siblings behind her. You rolled your eyes, your eldest brother seemed to glare at you. He hated you though, and you didn't particulary care. You just hated the drama that came with them. Then the Bridgertons. All of them, it seems. The eldest Bridgerton son is there with his wife, Kate. As is their mother, then Benedict who was next to you, Colin who seemed to glance between you and Penelope, Daphne with her husband, Simon. Eloise, Francesca (you truly hoped she got a better story in this show than the books), Gregory and Hyacinth.

"Brimsley, a pleasure to see you again." You avoid everyone to speak to your mother's right-hand man.

"Perhaps if you came out of your room more sir."

"Ah but if I did I might just die." You smile slightly, "Especially if I see William's face." Your brother takes a step towards you but quickly faltors at your mother's expression. "What have I done to warrant a family meeting without me."

"Being born really." George remarked and you smiled at him, cruelly.

"Brother you make me wish I wasn't and that instead I was with Charlotte, Amelia, Alfred and Octavius." What you said was cruel. Amelia died of tuberculosis, Alfred and Octavius died of smallpox, and the young Princess Charlotte who you weren't really sure how you died, you were barely there during the funeral. George (The fourth?) seemed to quiet down, looking sad. You were being rude, you didn't care. They back you into a corner and you attack, like always. "Edward! If you want to strike me you might as well try, but we both know you lack in that department, and many others."

"Quiet." Your mother tells you, and you wish you could care but you didn't. "This doesn't pertain you." She says your name gently, as if convincing you to calm down.

"Obviously it does if it has my soulmate running towards me." You jest towards Benedict. "What? Now that my attraction to men is out we must kill them all? It's not like it's been a secret."

"It is not godly." One of your brothers say.

"God is not Godly." You dennounce him, "You follow a book that has been rewritten multiple times, through many different languages. I do not believe in your God, you know that."

"Hush." Your mother calls your name and you just stare at her. "This was for the better of the Kingdom."

"Why does the Kingdom matter more than I?" You question, "Frankly, none of this does. But why are the Bridgertons and the Featherington's here?"

"You know who we are?" One of the other Featherington sisters say, she seems hot, considering the red to her face.

"I know of Penelope." You looked to her and nodded. "Who wouldn't? She's absolutely beautiful." You notice the looks that you recieve after you say your words. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, I just think its best-"

"She wants to discourage us from going after you." Benedict says as he grabs your wrist causing you to look at him.

"Us?"

[orange-orchard-system]

Since mottos and slogans have been a hot topic in the plural community lately... I want to introduce one that I've been thinking of for a long while now! It's part rallying cry, part "defiance via continued existence", and part punk in the "spikes as a deterrent" way (if that last comparison makes sense at all, lol – I'm specifically thinking of things like how wheelchair users may put spikes on the handles of their 'chair so others don't try to touch or move them without permission). It's this:

"Plural as in there are more of us than you think."

[PT: "Plural as in there are more of us than you think." / end PT]

I've also considered a longer version that would tie in the queer community/queerness – which I know is intertwined with plurality for many people – and that version would be: "Queer as in here without fear, plural as in there are more of us than you think". What do you all think?

I think it's very to-the-point, and plays on a simple premise: that we're not backing down – not in the face of hate, and not in the face of fear. Especially with the longer version; we're here, we're queer, get over it – and if you refuse to, just know that you can't silence us all, no matter how loudly you try to drown us out. We will always be here. There will always be someone to fight against the hate, to spit in the face of bigotry just by continuing to draw breath. It also has a nod to an older queer sentiment that I think we should bring back for both queer and plural folk alike – that we are everywhere. The cashier that scanned your groceries might be plural. The classmate sitting next to you might be plural. The neighbor across the street might be plural. We are here. There are more of us than you think. And we will not be afraid.

"There are more of us than you think" is also a nod to how statistics are often both misunderstood and just plain lacking in data. People really don't seem to realize just how population statistics translate to real life; how many people they pass by or have brief interactions with fit that "extremely rare" condition they dismissed, because something like "1.5%" doesn't look like a lot on paper, but ends up as a whole lot when you wander out into the world. That's at least one out of a hundred – and that estimate is on the more conservative side about one specific presentation of plurality, and doesn't account for many, many other forms of it. So, yeah, there are definitely more of us than they/you think.

I admit it can be read as a tad aggressive, but that's also part of the point. It's meant to be a very in-your-face type of motto, especially as a spit in the face of pluralphobia and all other forms of bigotry it entangles itself with – racism, sanism, disableism, ableism, religious intolerance, queerphobia, etc.. Yeah, your cashier, classmate, neighbor might be plural – and so what?! Yeah, maybe you should think twice about messing with us, because acceptance is growing and you're not going to be able to excuse your hateful nonsense for much longer without it being called out as such! But on the other hand, I think it can work well as a conversation starter, giving people the prompt to ask, "What does that mean?" In this case, the slogan being so provocative works in its favor! Yeah, actually, I'd love to talk about how plurals go unknown and deserve more awareness, how there are almost certainly more of us than even we can know for certain! And, again, spikes on a wheelchair – taking words as an art form, this slogan is art that's meant to make you uncomfortable, to make you question things; "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.", as Cesar A. Cruz said. It makes you scared or uncomfortable to think about there being more plurals out there than you first estimated there to be? Why does it make you feel that? Is this the result of unconscious bias? Why do you think we, the makers of this slogan, might be comforted by the same phrase that disturbs you?

We're plural as in more-than-one in more than one (lol) meaning of the phrase. More-than-one in this body, more-than-one of us out there fighting the good fight – helping others, breaking down walls, and pushing for a kinder and more accepting future.

Plural as in there are more of us than you think. Fuck your hatred, we're gonna be here no matter what.

[funnypages]

Conclave: The Surprise Movie Recommendation of October

So this is not at all what I would usually share on here, but if you looking for a movie to see with some of you older family, especially with the holidays coming up next few months, I definitely recommend you check out Conclave, a political thriller/mystery set during the election of a new pope, based of a 2016 novel by Robert Harris

Basic plot: Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is a cardinal of the liberal faction in the Roman Catholic Church, who receives news that the current pope (unnamed but heavily modeled after current Pope Francis) has died. As Dean of the College of Cardinals, it is Lawrence's responsibility to organize and manage the papal conclave during which the cardinals of the Church will be sequestered within the Sistine Chapel and elect the new pope.

Going into the conclave the 4 main candidates for pope are:

Cardinal Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) - An Italian cardinal from the extremely conservative traditionalist faction of the church, who wishes to undue all reforms the Catholic Church has initiated since the 1960s; and is a racist, fundamentalist, homophobe. The closest thing to a villain the movie has

Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) - A Nigerian cardinal, who while a liberal on economic issues and not wanting to roll back all reforms, is a hardliner against acceptance of LGBT+ issues.

Cardinal Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow) - A Canadian Conservative (although arguably more of a centrist), who has been machinating for months prior to the old pope's death to be elected, and will do anything to make sure it happens

Cardinal Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci) - An American cardinal who is a friend of Lawrence and the late pope. The candidate for the liberal/reform faction; he wants to improve relations with non-Christian religions, moderate the church on abortion and LGBT+ issues, and open to allowing women in the clergy. Although more sympathetic than the conservative candidates, we come to discover he is just as power hungry as them for the papacy.

As Lawrence tries to manage the election (while also supporting his friend as neutral as possible), he finds himself trying to investigate conspiracies, coverups, blackmail; and the appearance of a mysterious cardinal nobody has met before, but was appointed by the pope in secret prior to his death.

The movie is incredibly well acted and shot; and while quite critical of the Catholic Church at times; quite sympathetic in actual religious belief. I have seen some very pissed of reviews complaining about it being "woke" but while it is definitely on the side of the liberal faction, both Tremblay and Adeyemi get sympathetic moments. Although the "woke" accusations probably come mostly from the final twist. Won't give it away, but the movie says Queer Rights.

If you are still curious, I recommend checking out the trailer. It actually does a really good job of not spoiling anything but mixing around lines and scenes.

[jellolegos]

I love your Rhaenicent fanart of them with their baby but I do find it interesting you made Alicent the birther when in canon Rhaenyra’s the one who wanted children whilst Alicent was forced to.

I think Alicent’s happy ending is the poem: “in a dream i saw my mother with the love of her life and no children it was the happiest i'd ever seen her”.

With Rhaenyra on the other hand she needs her boys, that’s why most fanart of her death is her running to them.

Either way I’m loving your fanart, I just wonder if the reason you think Alicent would be the one giving birth instead of Nyra is because she tends to be portrayed as the “feminine” one in the relationship.

I mean, the baby is just sitting in Alicent’s lap, i didn’t/don’t conceive of either of them as necessarily birthing the baby so you’re welcome to interpret it as you wish (they also have white hair and are reading a book about dragons, although it got washed out, so they’re definitely rhaenyra’s kid).

I think the only thing going through my brain was that it would be cute for rhaenyra to greet her wife and kid after a small council meeting :) a monarch is busier than their consort, always!

I wrote a little bit about this on the twitter post of this art but I agree with you, I really hard time with fitting rhaenicent kids into my own interpretation because I don’t really know if either of them but especially alicent would want kids. I’ve been drawing them for 2+ years and I think this is the only baby I’ve drawn for them! (So like less than 2% of the time, lol) it’s definitely been something I’ve watched and have watched evolve over the course of the show.

here was what I wrote in the thread, which is probably the extent of my thinking into rhaenicent kids (as always, subject to change):

*I would probably change my phrasing from ‘not space or even a vernacular’ to ‘alicent lacks completely the ability to conceptualise or express her thoughts on motherhood or potential queerness outside of her circumstances’.

I think Alicent’s repression is pretty intentionally designed as a foil to rhaenyra’s expressiveness. I’ll default to something Emma has said which is that Rhaenyra is a ‘super-embodied’ character, and so I think even if, in a perfect world where she wasn’t forced to marry and birth the babies of an older man, alicent did really crave motherhood, would we know? Whilst rhaenyra is able to, to me, enjoy motherhood and express both a dislike and an acceptance of it despite constraints placed on her, we don’t really see anything of that magnitude with alicent (I think she struggles with her motherhood, but would she have in another world?).

The same goes for their respective queernesses. Rhaenyra may not know the word for what she’s feeling with mysaria, she’s willing and able to explore it, Alicent isn’t; she finds spiritual relief from it in extreme religious zealotry, emotional relief through her husband (‘my husband would not wish for the death of his daughter’), and physical relief through Rhaenyra’ ex lover, but she is unable to take that final step. Maybe she will though! i could totally see rhaenicent being DINKs and absolutely being the rich gay aunts for gwayne’s kids tbh, that’s my usual headcanon for them

[orphee-aux-enfers]

I. Don’t understand how being against homophobia and misogyny and informational suppression is cultural relativism? Yeah I have a #USAmerican raised Christian bias but I think not being bioessentialist and anti-intellectual is. Normal???? Genuinely don’t understand

Okay so. My guess from how this was written is that you are either a child or just into your 20s. I'd expect much different wording and approach if you were older. So. I'm going to try and be as gentle and clear cut as possible.

1) Orthodox Judaism is actually quite diverse and also different from Christianity, even fundamentalist Christianity .

2) What you're witnessing is not necessarily indicative of the actual community values; you are interpreting without insider perspective, or seemingly any actual knowledge. You're also ascribing motive to actions that may or may not be there.

3) many orthodox Jews, myself included, are queer and trans and embraced by our community. Every person of authority I've spoken to on the matter says that my incredibly queer, t4t marriage that gets read as gay no matter what, still gets the mitzvah of sex on erev Shabbos, and that includes my main community of Chabad.

4) many books are screened before being given to children by all people everywhere for a variety of reasons. Just because you don't fully understand the reasons as you are not yourself Orthodox Jewish doesn't mean that they are automatically something to be hated due to your preconceived notions.

5) Assuming a group is inherently homophobic, misogynistic, etc. Simply because you don't understand them as you are not part of their community is in fact a bad behaviour, yes. Don't do that. Most of the time, in most communities people are at worst confused.

6) As for misogyny... It's important to know the ways in which Judaism actually structures it's sex roles. No one has different sex roles because they're lesser, which misogyny implies. And every SINGLE person I have ever met observes mitzvos based on sex due to actually desire, not coercion. But for example, married women cover their hair as a way of making their marriage even more holy. Men meanwhile are told to cover their head at all times so they are mindful of G-d at all times. What does this imply at first glance? Why, that women are capable of remembering G-d at all times and the men are silly and must forget G-d if not reminded! Do we think this is all to the interpretation?

So. Before you judge our community so harshly... Perhaps also consider the last century of human history alone. We are being killed and hurt at alarming rates again, especially in the USA. Is it any wonder we don't stop in the streets to justify our existence to you?

Lastly, an oversharing of my personal details because as I am currently safe and well at home, I feel I ought to give you opportunity to understand that you aren't seeing/understanding the complexity of sex roles in Judaism

7) so, yes, orthodox Judaism has gender/sex based roles. It also is, in my experience, pretty flexible to meet individuals. I was coercively assigned female at birth. I was however by Jewish law, tumtum. In English terms, I had ambiguous genitals which could be surgically changed. My sister wanted a baby sister. And so, I was surgically "corrected" and raised female, until puberty and onset of hormonal problems that indicated that it wasn't just a genital mutation. I felt disconnected from binary gender, and at time, in part of my community having a label for me while the hospital I was born at had simply labeled me "incorrect", I came to embrace a masculine social standing. Because I was unable to be sexed as an infant, have masculine levels of testosterone and a lack of menses for years at a time, I have to adhere to both male and female sex based mitzvos. Religiously, I am operating with the strictest possible adherence, but this is all written and debated, as are all of the other sexes in Judaism. I am, however, allowed to exist as intersex in a Jewish community in a way that I am NEVER allowed to exist as intersex without a fight in the secular world, to the point that if it's not relevant I identify only as trans, because otherwise it becomes too complicated in the secular world. And this is genuinely because there is actually a space for me to exist in, as there are six Talmudic sexes.

Being trans and intersex is "allowed". Being queer is "allowed". Some communities differ, but I've lived in seven, and all of them have been more accepting of me being queer, trans, and intersex, than any secular space, including liberal and leftist spaces. At WORST, I am met with curiosity because I am new to the community. I think, perhaps, too many people in this world mistake curiosity with hatred.

[oneangstymotherfucker]

Another thing that bothers me is the way antis will use the word "coded". Coded is a word for groups that aren't allowed to have explicit representation to use for when authors make something that's obviously for them under the radar. Like queer coded. In kids shows there can also be stuff with coding for neurodivergent characters, and race coding can also be a thing. The idea is authors can't directly do what they want because society is being a dick (like they want to make x and x characters gay or have a Black main character) and so they code it so that people of those groups can still see themselves in it and Understand What They Mean.

So "child-coded" and "family-coded" are not things that even make sense. If the author wanted a character to be read as related or a child they would have simply written them that way! Nothing was stopping them! I respect all headcannons, but you headcannoning someone as a child or related and seeing your own evidence for it is not the same as coding.

Do you know what is coded though? Sebaciel. That ship is so heavily queer coded- in everything from the way the characters are drawn to the age gap to the campiness to the contract, the relationship-that-isn't-a-relationship-because-taboo!

These are classic queer tropes. They are all over the place in queer fiction, especially older queer fiction, to illustrate and emotionally navigate relationships that are considered by society predatory and taboo. Queers have always been painted as predatory. Because when you kicked out your teenage kid for being queer, guess where they went? They found some older queers to take them in. And support them in ways you never could, and see their strengths. And then people would say little Johnny was "seduced" or "taken advantage of" by some "degenerates" and "perverts" because they didn't want to take the blame of putting little Johnny on the streets. (Ofc sometimes im sure there were predators doing this maliciously, but that doesn't mean it was always the case. Not everyone wants to take advantage of people.)

Queer people also tend to have overlapping relationships because of social ostricization. For example, your dating history is your friend group and back in the days of Houses and mentors, your dating history might also have them in it too.

Age gaps are also a very quintessential trope in queer fiction. It makes a lot of sense when you think of how someone whose family life was suddenly cut short (or never really there in the first place) would end up wanting the sort of dynamic where someone was there to take care of them. And again- I'm sure that this was sometimes abused by a handful of people, but it as a fiction and as a desire is part of queer history and has been for hundreds of years. Most people whose parents pushed them aside or actively hurt them end up with daddy/mommy issues! Not everyone of course but a good amount! I want a daddy! I feel so much younger than I am because I am only just now getting to live my life as me!!! So of course i project myself onto and want to read stories about some little victorian boy and his op demon butler!!

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Ciel is very heavily queer coded. He was ignored by his family and then forcibly removed from it (because they died here, ofc) and the fact that he is essentially rescued from his powerlessness, aloneness, from being abused and taken advantage of by Sebastian, who is also very queer coded, ticks a lot of boxes. Then there's the whole messaging of Sebastian being seen as an abusive monster (when he is really quite caring of Ciel) and Ciel being seen as some perverted, broken, godless freak (ey what queers haven't heard those?), the religious implications of "making a pact with a demon" ("you can't be holy because of this relationship! Satan made u gay!!!!"), the victorian setting, the costume choices, the idea of being eaten, hell even the kinky undertones of the power dynamics- there are too many queer tropes to count. Even Ciel's age, when taken metaphorically- someone who hasn't been given the chance to have much experience, who isn't taken seriously, who does not have the social standing of someone who can hold their own against "grownups"- can all be read as coding for someone being descriminated against. Raise your hand if you're queer and have been called 'boy' or 'girl' derogatory/been treated like a kid for no reason!

I'd go so far as to say that most of the reason Black Butler squicks so many people is because the coding is so overt and obvious, but people still take it literally and think it just means "p3dO!1!!!1!". Probably because ya'll stay away from queer history because the Elders reclaimed slurs and that makes u angry lol.

The fact is even if Sebastian and Ciel never "get together", their relationship is still inherently queer and always will be. And quite frankly if it was cannon then it wouldn't be coded anymore it would just be gay. :)

Anyways thats how i feel about coding thanks for comin to my ted talk. x

[deconstructthesoup]

First thoughts on a Fantasy High Dead Boy Detectives AU:

Ayda is in Edwin's role as the brains of the agency and the ghost from 1916 who escaped Hell. Her father was wealthy enough that she was able to go to a private all-girl's boarding school, but as the only Black girl at the school---who was also visibly queer and neurodivergent to boot---she was treated as an outcast, right up until she got sacrificed in a prank gone wrong. Now that she's escaped, Ayda uses the skills she's picked up and her love of mysteries to help out her fellow ghosts, though she's... not exactly the best at processing her feelings. Especially when those feelings involve her partner in solving crime.

Fig is in Charles's role, because there's no better fit for our lovely, heart-on-her-sleeve punk than the lovely, heart-on-his-sleeve punk---and let's be real, Fig is the most 80's Bad Kid. She attended the same boarding school as Ayda (just, y'know, seventy decades in the future), and while she fell in with the popular girls easily, it didn't take long for them to turn on her once she stood up for someone they were bullying... and, well, that led to her death. While Fig acts carefree and wisecracking, she carries a lot of guilt with her over the fact that she'd written off her family once she found out that Gilear wasn't her real dad, and not only did she never get to reconnect with them, but the experience was jarring enough that she made a lot of bad decisions, which led to equally bad relationships.

Adaine is in Crystal's role as our favorite psychic that is full of rage and anxiety. Her "David" is Penelope, who posed as a cool, older girl who gave Adaine the attention that she was lacking at home---and eventually became her first girlfriend, though that relationship was... not great. Now without a lot of her memories, Adaine's stuck with the Dead Girl Detectives, much to Fig's delight---and Ayda's, eventually. She gets over her jealousy way quicker than Edwin did. While Adaine wasn't a "make someone walk into traffic" kind of person pre-amnesia, she did carry over a lot of bitterness that curdled into something worse when she got swept up into the popular crowd, so... yeah, Fig and Ayda are kind of a blessing for her.

Figuring out the Niko equivalent was a bit harder, but I eventually settled on making her Lucy. She kind of fits the bill of someone who has a lot of sadness but is still unflinchingly kind, and between the pale hair and being dead-but-not-really-dead... yeah, Lucy's wonderful, and it means if I ever write this, I get to figure out who she is as I write her. Also, her dandelion sprites are Kipperlilly and Ruben, because I thought that'd be hilarious.

Thinking more into that, I decided that Sam would be a pretty good Jenny, seeing as she's got the bitchy-yet-loving energy that we all need. She's tired yet protective, closed off yet oddly kind... it works. Even though her style's more of a, uh "mermaid academia" type than goth, I think she'd make a really good Jenny.

And here's where you're gonna have to hear me out... Kristen is the Cat King, or rather, the Cat Queen. As tempting as it is to make her the church girl lesbian who's just come out and is struggling in a small town, I really wanted to hone in on her energy in Junior Year---a confident, easygoing, and hella flirtatious butch who's still a total mess underneath her swagger. I like to think that she was a human girl living in a religious family once (say, when settlers first arrived in Port Townsend), but she got really into witchcraft and wound up devoting herself to the cats, becoming an otherworldly being with nine lives as a result. As it stands, Kristen is hella fun, even if most of what she does is cause trouble.

With that in mind, Kalina was really the only character who I felt matched up with Ester's energy---except for Aelwyn, of course, but seeing as she's Adaine's sister and all, it didn't feel quite right. It could also tie in with Kristen's backstory---say, maybe Kalina was the person who taught Kristen about witchcraft, Kristen wound up getting the better end of the deal, and Kalina's still burnt out about two hundred years later. And in an irony of ironies, that resentment led Kalina to have a wolf familiar instead of a cat... who is, of course, our lovely girl Tracker. (Yes, Tracker has been turned into a girl before, and yes, she and Kristen are exes.)

I'm not quite sure who I want the Night Nurse to be, and you can tell that I'm saving roles for Gorgug, Fabian, Riz, and Ragh in case we meet characters like them in season 2---though, I have been fiddling around with the idea of Riz being an angel and a former agent of Heaven who Ayda and Fig have basically adopted into the agency. This is a first draft, so... yep!

[eddiediazismyhusband]

i really want a fic of eddie realising him and buck have been falling in love the entire time.

I keep seeing posts (and even had someone tell me) that it’d be unrealistic for Eddie to be in love with Buck and not realise. Like not even think of him as an option. 

But that’s such a real queer person thing- i’ve lived that experience. I’m a women and despite all the times I admired other women it took forever for it to click for me.

I mean I grew up with accepting parents and kind friends and even queer people on tv. I remember looking at girls as much as I looked at boys. And yet I still had the reoccurring thought “I could be gay, I mean i’m not- but I could be. But most people aren’t gay and i’m most people”. (gay being used here in my head to mean “not straight”) AND YET despite it all I didn’t realise i was Bi until I was much older.

And even then, I’d had at least two long term crushes without realising they were crushes before it clicked. 

(I kid you not- it took a drag queen talking to me like i was a toddler for it to click, but that’s a whole other story SO-) 

Whether or not Eddie already knows he’s gay (or demi or whatever) doesn’t really make a difference, cause it’s that same sort of heteronormative internalising that causes these feeling to not be understood. 

Especially for Eddies character who’s had this messy norm with Shannon for so long, a stable thing to grasp (even when their relationship was a mess) and then her death and him chasing to find that weak grasp to SOMETHING again- something that can be another excuse to not go looking for himself. 

Like he’s internalised this behaviour of, “if i’m in a relationship, I don’t have to look deep and figure out why it’s not working” and never quite realising that maybe the reason it’s not working is cause he’s trying to replace something that was never really real.

(Speaking of, Eddie and Shannon are the epitome of loml by taylor swift. I mean- “we were just kids babe” “from one kiss to getting married” “something counterfeits dead” “what a valiant roar, what a bland goodbye” “i’m combing through the band of lies- “i’ll never leave” never mind”) 

babe you are speaking to the POSTER CHILD of raised in a religious household and convinced themselves they weren’t queer until it was staring them in the face

the biggest issue is that most (again i said most before yall try to jump down my throat) of the people who are against buddie are either straight people who don’t understand the nuances of queerness, or queer people who didn’t grow up in environments of oppression and have never felt the need to hide themselves

i used to tell my parents i had crushes on girls only to later realize that it was because i just had a genuine platonic connection with them (two of whom are my best friends and are also queer women) and i used to get confused about what the difference between attraction and admiration was— something a LOT of queer people go through without realizing.

comphet is literally such a widespread phenomenon that people truly don’t realize just how common it is— like even queer people don’t realize they probably know several “straight” people who are still lying to themselves bc sexuality isn’t black and white— it exists on a spectrum. I’m not saying that to invalidate anyone’s straightness, im just saying i know multiple men who are my dads age (60s +) who only recently came to the realization that they were gay.

it’s genuinely so disappointing to see some of the people in this fandom pushing homophobic talking points from history just to disprove a character’s implied queerness bc they view that character’s queerness as a threat to their ship.

anyway, i agree eddie and shannon’s relationship is soooooo unconscious lavender marriage coded to me and there are SO MANY beautiful TS lyrics that apply to that… another song that i really feel like captures Eddie’s pov of the relationship is Home by One Direction… especially these lyrics:

[lovely-lou]

The reason I love Tommy’s character is because I see so many peoples journeys in his, from who he was when he was still in the closet and scared to who he is now being open about his sexuality. I love seeing stories of growth especially when the characters are older because it does reflect real life in a lot of ways.

I’ve known that I was bi since I was 14 but I struggled to accept that for a while even though I had told people I was bi (thank you religious trauma) and there were so many times that I was so unkind to myself. I’m turning 24 and it was this year that I finally accepted myself fully, after a decade of wrestling with myself so I love Tommy’s growth and I love Buck’s journey where he’s finding that part of himself a little later in life. These are important stories to tell because they do happen and I could not be happier with the way that Oliver and Lou have brought them to life.

I think that's why I love kinkley so much. Both characters represent very real stories that we don't often see in mainstream media. I, personally, have cried to my friend multiple times about how this storyline makes me feel seen in a way I've never felt before. So seeing how much it positively affects me, and hearing how it positively affects others, I can't understand why people are trying to tear this ship down.

Also, I'm glad you've been able to accept yourself! I know how much of a struggle it can be to accept being queer in any form, but I hope you (and everyone) know that there's nothing wrong with it, despite what so many religions try to tell us.

[my-castles-crumbling]

hi overbearing parents anon here i need to vent a little so like my mother is great and all but the way she acts is... a little much, and it kinda makes sense for what she's been through. so like my mother has been married twice the first one (my birth father) was... an asshole like the kind of guy who blames the world for his mistakes and is in and out of a courtroom, and then the second one (my step father) he's like my mother's perfect match both of them are very literal people and love to say they will do something and then do the opposite they also punish harshly especially when it comes to my brother (my full brother) and me. between my mother's two marriages she's had 4 kids me and my brother, and then the two little boys. the two little ones are like my mother's favorite children they are exactly what she wanted from kids... and then there's my brother and me... we are problems to say the least... like i'm the non religious queer kid who has no motivation to so much as get out of bed much less do homework and my brother is basically the same as our birthfather... you can probably guess that we're counting down the days until we turn 18. but like with the controlling thing it's like we cant use devices that they give us with out them knowing exactly what we've done on them so any app or site i like has been blocked i can literally only use the devices they gave us for homework and communication (so this ask is being sent on a device i got from an alternate source)... i dont really know why i'm sending this i just need someone to talk to who doesnt say that my parents are doing it cause they love me

Hi!

I just want to remind you that just because your parents are doing things because they think it's right, doesn't actually make it right. You also aren't a problem. You are a human with valid feelings who deserves love just as much as your younger siblings. I'm sorry that this is what your life is right now, but I'm glad you have the ability to move out when you get older!

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

I just sent in an ask but I forgot I had another question! (the nature one)

When I said I was Catholic I meant Roman Catholic, but in my research for affirming churches and denominations I came across other groups/churches (I’m in America) that were technically Catholic but had slightly different names, and were very affirming. I was wondering if you had more information on these types of groups? I know at this point in my life I probably will not stay Roman Catholic but I know staying Catholic to an extent is important to my family.

Ok thanks again!

Whoops, forgot to post this one!

Yes, there are other Catholic groups beyond the Roman Catholic Church :D

There's the Liberal Catholic Church, the American Apostolic Old Catholic Church...I wish I had more information about them — followers?

____

Within Roman Catholicism, there are also many LGBTQ+ affirming groups, including:

DignityUSA works for respect and justice for people of all sexual orientations, genders, and gender identities—especially gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons—in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy, and support. You can see if there’s a local chapter near you on the site! .

New Ways Ministry has been advocating for justice, equality, and reconciliation within the larger church and civil communities since the late 1970s. .

The Progressive Catholic Voice is an “independent and grassroots forum for reflection, dialogue, and the exchange of ideas within the Catholic community of Minnesota and beyond.” It’s not LGBT specific, but here’s a link to all the posts that have been categorized as LGBT. .

The Wild Reed is a blog by Michael J. Bayly, an Australian who resides in the US and who served as the executive coordinator of the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM) from 2003-2015. This blog has been churning out posts since 2006(!), with the most recent post being about Lil Nas X coming out. Lots of older posts review books, talk about queer Saints, and more.

As well as supportive clergy and religious, including:

Father James Martin, a Catholic priest who advocates for LGBTQA+ folk

Brother Robert Lentz, a monk and iconographer who frequently features queer Saints in his icons

[collectivecartomancy]

Quick & Easy Tarot Card Meanings (Yes, All 78)

The Modern Phrasal approach is a novel method of learning tarot.

It queers older card meanings by applying them to a wider context of human life.

Each phrase is built for modern concerns, attention spans, and situations. 

I developed the Modern Phrasal Approach during my twenty-two years of tarot study.

Temperance Queer Tarot, my tarot service for queers, feminists, and leftists, has been in operation for the past twelve years. 

The Modern Phrasal Approach also comes out of my lifelong work as a poet. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

SLINGSHOT, my first book of poems, won several awards. It also reminded me of the importance of the phrase to language. 

The primacy of the phrase is what poetry understands better than all other forms of writing.

The Modern Phrasal Approach combines tarot, storytelling, and poetry to paint a picture of possible futures. 

You may notice that there are no reversed card meanings.

This is because the reader is intended to read reverse as a return to the unlearned lessons of the previous card.

That is the best method of reversal reading for this system. Of course, you may elect not to read reversals at all. 

Ok, let’s go!

(P.S. I don’t know how to put in anchor links so control + F is your friend!)

Major Arcana

0: The Fool

Keywords: Risk-Taking. New Beginnings. Variability.

Love & Sex: Androgynous and/or Bisexual Lovers. Risk-Taking in Love. Asking Someone Out.

Friendship: A Scattered, yet Affable Friend. New Friendship. 

Money: Making Money Through Gambling, Speculation, and Other Risks. Money Lost and Won. 

Career/Business/Work: Self-Employment. Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. 

 1: Magician

Keywords: Initiation. Manipulation. Communication. Technology. Alchemy. 

Love & Sex: Making the First Move. Manipulating a Lover (Especially with The Fool). 

Friendship: Forming or Forging a New Friendship. Initiating a Friendship. 

Money: Creating Money Out of the Ether. Money Drawn Through Clear Communication. 

Career/Business/Work: Technologists. Scientists. Alchemists. Clear Communication At Work. 

2: High Priestess

Keywords: Mystery. Prophesy. Intuition. Three-Faced Goddess: Maiden. 

Love & Sex: Lesbians. Sex Activating Deep Desires. Mysterious Love. Secrets in Love. 

Friendship: Covens. Clandestine (Informal) Gatherings. Psychic Friends. 

Money: Money Made From Secret or Hidden Sources. Money Made From Psychic Work. 

Career/Business/Work: Therapist. Psychics. Mediums. Religious Leaders in Feminist Traditions.  

3: Empress

Keywords: Three-Faced Goddess: Mother. Fertility. Abundance. Nurturing. Creativity. Nature.

Love & Sex: Being Worshipped By a Lover. Getting Pregnant. Creative Sex. 

Friendship: Abundant and Nurturing Friendships. 

Money: Financial Ease and Abundance.  

Career/Business/Work: Nannies. Housewives. Career Success Without Much Work.

4: Emperor

Keywords: Power. Valor. Stability. Direction. Hierarchy. Decisiveness. Masculinity. Experts.

Love & Sex: Aggressive Sex. Love With Someone Who Has Power. Older Lovers. 

Friendship: Being Friends With Your Boss. Friendships With People Who Have More Power.

Money: Making Money Through Wise Decisions or Powerful Connections. Money Moves. 

Career/Business/Work: Brokers. Military Leaders. Power. Expertise. Promotion. 

5: Hierophant

Keywords: Religion. Order. Secret Organizations. Organization. Governments. Three-Faced Goddess: Crone.

Love & Sex: Serious Relationships. Missionary Sex. Marriage. Escalator Relationships. 

Friendship: Socially Sanctioned Friendships. Mentorships.   

Money: Money From Investments, Banks, and Business. Money From Religious Work. 

Career/Business/Work: Clergy. Trustees. Security. Working Up an Established Business Ladder. 

6: Lovers

Keywords: Love. Romance. Choice. Harmony. Balance Between People and Sides of Yourself.  

Love & Sex: True Love. Deep Romance and Understanding. Loving Sex. Self Love. 

Friendship: Spiritual Friendships. Loving Friendships. Friendships That Encourage Self Love.

Money: Money Made in Harmonious, Easeful Ways. 

Career/Business/Work: Harmonious and Spiritually Aligned Jobs.  

7: Chariot

Keywords: Ambition. Success. Drive.  Self-Determination. Missions. Journeys. 

Love & Sex: Landing an Idealized Partner. Satisfying Sex. Athletic Sex. Competitive Dating. 

Friendship: Friendships That Bring Success or With Successful People. Competitive Friends. 

Money: Money Gained Through Ambition, Drive, or Brute Force. 

Career/Business/Work: Professional Success. Military Service. Sports. 

8: Strength

Keywords: Boundaries. Force. Grace. Human/Animal Dichotomy. Willpower.  

Love & Sex: Breaking Old Patterns in Love. Setting Boundaries. 

Friendship: Setting Boundaries With Friends. Helping a Friend Advance Emotionally.

Money: Applying Grace To Your Financial Life. Being Honest About a Financial Situation. 

Career/Business/Work: Strength of Will At Work. Overcoming Rivals. 

9: Hermit

Keywords: Seeing the Light. Being Alone. Leading the Way. Self-Isolation. Loneliness. 

Love & Sex: Celibacy. Needing To Put Yourself Out There. Frigidity. Too in Your Head. 

Friendship: Need To Make New Friends. Philosophical Friendship. 

Money: Money Made in Isolation. 

Career/Business/Work: Work That Requires Long Periods Alone To Complete. Scholars.

10: Wheel of Fortune

Keywords: Gambles. Wild Rides. Fate. Turning Your Present Condition Upside Down. Cycles.

Love & Sex: Relationship Ups and Downs. Fated Meetings. New Relationships. Karma. 

Friendship: Fated Friendships. Changes in Friendships. Long-Term Friendships. 

Money: Surprise Money Gain or Loss. Money Appears From an Unexpected Source. Gambling. 

Career/Business/Work: Gamblers,Poker Players, and Card Sharks. Taking a Chance At Work.

11: Justice

Keywords: Balance. Fairness. Legal Decisions. Karma. Retribution. 

Love & Sex: An Equal Romance. You Reap What You Sow in Relationships. 

Friendship: Being in Right Relationship With a Friend.  

Money: Money From Legal Settlements. A Fair Split. A Fair Wage. 

Career/Business/Work: Contracts. The End of a Business Dispute. 

12: Hanged Man

Keywords: Patience. Surrender. Sacrifice. Martyrdom. Enlightenment. 

Love & Sex: Waiting For the Right Person. Getting a New Perspective in Love. Pillow Queens. 

Friendship: Tripping With Friends. Friends Who Change Your Beliefs or Attitudes. 

Money: Money From Alternative Healing. Waiting For Money To Come. 

Career/Business/Work: Yoga Teachers. Wise People. Allowing a Boss To Show Their True Colors.  

13: Death

Keywords: Endings. Clearings. Rebirth. Transformation. 

Love & Sex: Breakups That You Could See Coming. Strong Orgasms. Relationship Transformation. 

Friendship: Ending Friendships. Life-Changing Friendships. 

Money: End To a Source of Income. Clearing the Way For New Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Losing a Job. Moving On From a Career. Working With the Dead. 

14: Temperance

Keywords: Balance. Budgeting. Human/Divine. Miracles. Healing. Spiritual Expansion. 

Love & Sex: Making Up After an Argument. Equitable Sexual Encounters. 

Friendship: Friendships That Come From or Lead To Spiritual Expansion. 

Money: Creating a Budget. Putting Money in the Correct Accounts. Expansive Financial Thinking. 

Career/Business/Work: Philosophy. Spiritual Work. Exceeding Your Estimations At Work. 

15: Devil

Keywords: Obsession. Abuse. Capitalism. Celebrity. Greed. Sexuality. Addiction. 

Love & Sex: A Volatile, Abusive, Dangerous, or Manipulative Lover. A Lover With an Addiction.

Friendship: Friends Who Bring Trouble. Charismatic, yet Abusive Friends. 

Money: Developing an Unhealthy Relationship To Money. Greed. Money Over Everything. 

Career/Business/Work: Film Industry. Jobs That Use Underhanded Tactics. Watch Your Back.  

16: Tower

Keywords: Shock. Surprise. Confinement. Revolution. Major Changes. Potential Danger. 

Love & Sex: A Surprising End or Change To a Relationship. A Quickie. 

Friendship: Shocking End To a Friendship. Major Changes in a Friendship. 

Money: Changes in Wealth, Like Sudden Home Moves and Bank Account Closures. 

Career/Business/Work: Working in Prisons or Hospitals. Job Loss or Radical Job Change. 

17: Star

Keywords: Healing. Faith. Renewal. Guidance. Prophecy. Wisdom. Altruism. Social Justice.

Love & Sex: An Altruistic Relationship. Healing in Relationships. Asking For Relationship Advice. 

Friendship: Renewal of a Friendship. Wisdom Gained From Friendship. 

Money: Money Made For the Social Good. Giving Money To Charity. 

Career/Business/Work: Social Justice Organizations. Listening To Internal Guidance At Work.

18: Moon

Keywords: Emotions. Confusion. Illusions. Psychic Ability. Repressed Emotions and Trauma. 

Love & Sex: Problems and Confusion in Relationships. Trauma Affecting Relationships. 

Friendship: Emotional Illusions in Friendship. False Friendship. Confusion Due to Friends. 

Money: Money Made Through Night Work, in Theaters, Hotels, or Nightclubs. Financial Illusions. 

Career/Business/Work: Any Work That Creates Illusions. Wait For the Truth About a Job. 

19: Sun

Keywords: Revelation. Clarity. Children. Optimism. Heat. Passion. 

Love & Sex: Clarity in a Romantic Relationship. A Partner With Whom You May Want Children.  

Friendship: Friends With Children. Clarity About Friendships. Optimism About Friendships. 

Money: Revelation of a New Way To Make Money. Summer or Seasonal Jobs. 

Career/Business/Work: Optimism About Your Career Careers in the Public Eye. 

20: Judgment

Keywords: Decisions. Accountability. Outcomes. Awakening. Recovery.

Love & Sex: Making Romantic Decisions. A Lover Holds You Accountable. Turning Points in Love. 

Friendship: The Outcome of a Conflict With a Friend. Deciding Whether or Not To Stay Friends.

Money: Successful Business Deals and Financial Endeavors. Careful Where You Put Your Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Be Decisive At Work. Becoming the Person in Charge. Responsibility. 

21: World

Keywords: Completion. Attainment. Breaking Cycles. Moving Up in the World. Fulfillment.  

Love & Sex: Major Life Events in Love Like Starting a Family or Moving in Together. 

Friendship: Events Where Friends Can Watch You Succeed Like a Graduation or Wedding. 

Money: Confidence in Financial Endeavors. Financial Success After Hard Work. Public Trading. 

Career/Business/Work: Traveling For Work. Fulfilling Jobs.

Minor Arcana: Wands

Ace of Wands 

Keywords: Beginnings. Conception. Sex. Invitations. New Jobs. Opportunity.

Love & Sex: Flings. Impatience in Love. Sex Without Love. Quickies. Meetings.

Friendship: New Friends. Sudden Return of Old Connections. 

Money: Quick Cash. Temporary Increase in Income. Gambling. 

Career/Business/Work: Move Quickly Towards a New Opportunity. Invitations.

 Two of Wands

Keywords: Working Together. Expansion. Making Decisions. Road To Success. 

Love & Sex: Wandering Eye. Grass Always Greener On the Other Side.. Practical Decisions. 

Friendship: Working With Friends. Friends Made At Work. 

Money: Money From Small or Self Owned Businesses. Helping Your Job Make More Money.  

Career/Business/Work: Interviews. Evaluating Potential Employers. Collaboration. 

Three of Wands

Keywords: Media. Communication. Travel. Evaluating Your Companions. Taking the Next Step.

Love & Sex: Decisions About Love. Traveling Together. Online Dating. Ultimatums. 

Friendship: Traveling With Friends. Online Friends. Expansion. Early Stages of Friendship.

Money: Making Money Online. Investing in Yourself. E-Commerce. 

Career/Business/Work: Remote Work. Online Donations. Advertising. Creative Business. 

Four of Wands 

Keywords: Surprises. Success. Celebrations. Luck. Rites of Passage.

Love & Sex: Good News. Weddings. Baby Showers. Wedding Showers. Housewarmings.

Friendship: Celebrations With Friends. Joyous Occasions. Graduations. Creating Memories. 

Money: Hosting Parties For Money. Enjoying Your Money. Down Payments. Abundance. 

Career/Business/Work: A Thriving Team. A New Workplace. Joyful Work. 

Five of Wands

Keywords: Conflict. Play. Team Sports. Young People. Debate. 

Love & Sex: Conflict. Arguments. Difficult Conversations. Light Kink. Group Play. 

Friendship: Banter. Conflict With Friends. Disagreement. Team Sports.  

Money: Auctions. Fighting For a Contract. A Competitive Financial Environment. 

Career/Business/Work: Friendly Rivalries At Work. Professional Competition. Business. 

Six of Wands

Keywords: Power. Drive. Moving Quickly. Success. Accomplishment. Achievement. Esteem.

Love & Sex: Attractive Companions. Coming On Too Strong. Success in Love.

Friendship: A Successful Friend. Making the First Move. Success With Friends. 

Money: Winning Grants and Awards. Promotion. Asking For a Raise. 

Career/Business/Work: New Jobs and Promotion. Success in Business Assignments.

Seven of Wands

Keywords: Battle. Drive. Uncertain Outcome. Defending Yourself. Hostility. Arguments. 

Love & Sex: Surprising Conflict. Too Much Sex. Differing Sexual or Romantic Needs. 

Friendship: Arguments With Friends. Annoying or Competitive Friends. 

Money: A Competitive Field. Feeling Like There Isn’t Enough Money. Overwork. 

Career/Business/Work: Unrealistic Demands. Rivals. Overbearing Boss. 

Eight of Wands

Keywords: Swift Movement. Letters. Information. Quick Results. Communication. 

Love & Sex: Flirtation. Love Letters. Sexting. Sneaky Links. Unexpected Connections. 

Friendship: Sexy Parties With Friends. Being a Wingwoman/Wingman. Flirting With Friends. 

Money: Quick Flow of Money. Spending Money. Money Spent To Advance Yourself. 

Career/Business/Work: A Fast Moving Project. Hearing Back From an Interview. Internships. 

Nine of Wands

Keywords: A Pause in Battle. Attractiveness. Health. Considered Action. 

Love & Sex: Being Admired. Multiple Love Interests. People Fighting For Your Attention. 

Friendship: Working Out With Friends. Friend Who Has a Crush On You. Conflict Between Friends.

Money: Negative Attitude About Money. Bank Charges. Temporary Loss of Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Negative Performance Reviews. Need To Work Harder. 

Ten of Wands

Keywords: Overwhelm. Burdens. Taking On Too Much. Demands. Final Straw.  

Love & Sex: Too Much of a Good Thing. Need To Take a Step Back. Too Much Work To Date 

Friendship: A Needy or Demanding Friend. Picking Up the Slack For Irresponsible Friends. 

Money: Low Return On Investment. Not Planning For Taxes. Money That Becomes Burdensome. 

Career/Business/Work: Too Many Jobs. Too Much Work. Suffering Under Your Own Ambition.

Page of Wands

Keywords: Young People. Active or Sporty People. Fun. Casual, Short-Term Relationships.

Love & Sex: Dating Around. Casual Sex. Short-Term Relationships. Younger Lovers. Speed Dating.

Friendship: Younger Friends. Immature Friends. Acquaintances. 

Money: Figuring Out How To Make Money. School or Learning. Gig Economies. 

Career/Business/Work: Playing Around At Your Job. Gig Work. Still Figuring Out What You Want. 

Knight of Wands

Keywords: Rushing in. Valor. Enthusiasm. Being Seen. Physical Attractiveness. 

Love & Sex: Partners Who Aren’t Taking You Seriously. Affairs. Heartthrobs. 

Friendship: Opinions About Friends’ Romantic and Sex Lives. An Attractive Friend. 

Money: Grabbing a New Opportunity. Getting the Financial Upper Hand. A New Idea About Money.  

Career/Business/Work: Changing Jobs. Becoming the Office Hero. Creative Problem Solving. 

Queen of Wands

Keywords: Popularity. Influence. Grace. Glamor. Magnetism. 

Love & Sex: Waiting For Lovers To Come To You. Having Your Pick of Lovers. Feeling Sexy. 

Friendship: Popularity. People Who Seem To Be Friends With Everyone. Powerful Women Friends.

Money: Feeling Control Over Your Financial Life. Influencing or Being Influenced About Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Businesses That Empower Women. Motivational Speaking in the Office. 

King of Wands

Keywords: Powerful. Self-Directedness. Leadership. Paramour. Businessman. 

Love & Sex: An Unavailable Man. A Sexy, yet Short-Term Relationship. Cheating. Hot Sex.

Friendship: Friendship With a Business Mentor or Superior 

Money: Making Your Own Money. Money That Comes Based On Image or Appearance.  

Career/Business/Work: Owning a Small Business. Becoming a Leader At Work or Business.

Minor Arcana: Swords

Ace of Swords

Keywords: Information. Endings. Truth. Death. Cutting Through the Bullshit.

Love & Sex: Finding Out the Truth About a Lover. A Turning Point in a Relationship.  

Friendship: A Crisis in a Friendship. A Secret Is Revealed About a Friend. 

Money: Money From Legal Decisions. Security Deposits. Making Financial Decisions. 

Career/Business/Work: Applying For New Jobs. Communicating With Your Employer. 

 Two of Swords

Keywords: Inability To Make a Decision. Fear of Moving Forward. Denial. Legal Issues. Delays.

Love & Sex: Filing For a Divorce. Applying For a Marriage License. Denial About a Lover. 

Friendship: Difficulty Making a Decision About a Problem in a Friendship.  

Money: Delayed Money From Legal Sources. Process Difficulties With Money.  

Career/Business/Work: Delays in Signing Contracts. Uncertainty About Leaving a Job. 

Three of Swords

Keywords: Heartbreak. Sudden Endings. Miscarriages. Pain. Unavoidable Ruptures. Discord. 

Love & Sex: Break-ups. Arguments. Misunderstandings. Affairs. Hurt Feelings. 

Friendship: Ending a Failing Friendship. Big Fights Between Friends. Being Abandoned By Friends. 

Money: Expected Money Fails To Come Through. Contracts May Be Dissolved. Finances Stalled.

Career/Business/Work: Job Loss. Communication Problems. Workplace Harassment. 

Four of Swords 

Keywords: Rest. Healing. Confinement. Loneliness. Isolation. 

Love & Sex: Missionary Position. Boring Love. Healing Conversation After a Fight.  

Friendship: Visiting Friends in the Hospital. Not Having Many Friends. Missing Friends.

Money: Finances On Hold. Considering the Next Financial Move. 

Career/Business/Work: Taking a Leave of Absence From Work. Considering Your Options. 

Five of Swords

Keywords: Impasse. Deception. Duplicity. Abuse. Selfishness. Abandonment. Worry. Strife.

Love & Sex: Two-Faced Lovers. Verbal Abuse. Selfishness In Bed. Sexual Abuse. Ghosting. 

Friendship: Friends Who Use You. Entitled Friends. Abandoning a Friend.

Money: Theft. Scams. Things That Appear Better Than They Are. Taking Advantage of Others. 

Career/Business/Work: Abusive Workplace. Wage Theft. Bait and Switch In Business.

Six of Swords

Keywords: Moving On. Getting Away From Abuse. Travel and Movement. Finding Safety.  

Love & Sex: Establishing a New Pattern of Healthy Relationships. Leaving Abusive Relationships.

Friendship: Staying With Friends. Moving in With Friends. 

Money: Making Money Through Travel. Finding a Clear Path To Make Money After a Hard Time.

Career/Business/Work: Traveling For Work. Finding More Harmony in The Workplace After Strife. 

Seven of Swords

Keywords: Theft. Cheating. Doing What’s Best For You. Forcing Change. Surprising Behavior.

Love & Sex: Infidelity. Leaving Suddenly. Lying. Considering Multiple Partners. 

Friendship: Lies and Deception in Friendship. Sudden Changes in Friendship. 

Money: Getting Over On Others. Stealing Money. Scams.  

Career/Business/Work: Lying To Your Boss. Going Behind Your Colleagues’ Back. Hidden Rivalry. 

Eight of Swords

Keywords: Feeling Trapped. Fear of Moving On. Being Stuck in Hostile or Painful Patterns. Incarceration. Addiction.

Love & Sex: Being Trapped in Abusive Relationships. Fear of Leaving. Limiting Beliefs About Love.  

Friendship: Friends That Hurt You. Continuing Painful Friendships. 

Money: Limiting Activities Due To Lack of Funds. Repeating Patterns That Keep You Broke. 

Career/Business/Work: Being Stuck At An Unsupportive or Bad Job. 

Nine of Swords

Keywords: Trauma. Grief. Shadow Work. Sadness. Humiliations. Betrayal. 

Love & Sex: A Relationship That Causes Pain. Fear of Relationships Because of Past Hurt. 

Friendship: A Painful Event in a Friendship. Difficulty Making Friends Due To Trauma. 

Money: Financial Stress. Poverty Trauma. Money Worries. Self-Worth Issues Related To Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Prolonged Unemployment. Stressful or Unrewarding Work. 

Ten of Swords

Keywords: Final End. Release. Destruction. Goodbyes. Relief Caused By Letting Go. 

Love & Sex: Unresolvable Issues. Emotional Catharsis. Feeling Better After a Relationship Ends. 

Friendship: Ending a Friendship For Good. Resolving Old Issues. 

Money: Failure of Some Kind in Finances. Ending a Period of Hardship By Making New Decisions. 

Career/Business/Work: End of a Job. Termination. Lay-offs. 

Page of Swords

Keywords: Gossip. Chit Chat. School Groups. Casual Conversation.

Love & Sex: All Talk. Relationship Gossip. Flirtatious Texts. Getting To Know Each Other.

Friendship: Casual Friend Groups. Gossipy or Shallow Friends. 

Money: News and Documents Related To Money. New Plans to Make Money.  

Career/Business/Work: News About a New Job or Potential Job. Applying For Jobs. 

Knight of Swords

Keywords: Breath of Fresh Air. Fools Rush in. What’s Done in the Dark Will Come To Light. 

Love & Sex: Intellectual Companions. Romantic Banter.

Friendship: Sparring Partners. School Friends. Debate Partners. Intellectual Friendship.  

Money: Surprising Information About Money. Possibly Bad News Related To Money.   

Career/Business/Work: Information About a Possible Job. Communication. Marketing. 

Queen of Swords

Keywords: Exacting. Cold. A Single Parent or Divorced Person. Could Be a Widow/er/x.  

Love & Sex: Frigid. High Standards. Wants a Partner, But Doesn’t Need One. 

Friendship: People Who Are Difficult To Get To Know. Friends Who Seem To Have It All Together. 

Money: Wise Financial Decisions. Independent Assets. Clear Financial Communication. 

Career/Business/Work: Working Independently. Nurses. Thought Leadership. Witches.

King of Swords

Keywords: Smart. Logical. Unemotional. Professional. Charming. Lacking Empathy. 

Love & Sex: A Professional. Someone Who Needs To Feel Above or Removed From Others.

Friendship: A Collegial Relationship. A Professional Friend. 

Money: Anticipating Future Needs. Wills. Trusts. Bonds. Financial Deals Go Well. 

Career/Business/Work: Law. Communication. A Charming Boss. An Intellectual Environment.

Minor Arcana: Cups

Ace of Cups

Keywords: Emotional Beginnings. Outpouring. Abundance. Fertility. 

Love & Sex: Conception (Especially With the Ace of Wands.) Orgasm. New Love. 

Friendship: New, Emotionally Fulfilling Friendship. Emotional Sharing With Friends. 

Money: Creative Money. Outpouring of Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Jobs in Creative Fields. Renewal in Business Life. 

 Two of Cups

Keywords: Partnership. Harmonious Relationships. Romance. 

Love & Sex: Romantic Love. Lovemaking. Early Stages of a Great Romantic Partnership.  

Friendship: Harmonious Friendships. Friends To Lovers. 

Money: Making Money Through Strong Business Partnerships. 

Career/Business/Work: Mixing Love With Money. Counting On a Good Team. 

Three of Cups

Keywords: Friendship. Parties. Gatherings. Revalry. Socializing. 

Love & Sex: Group Sex. Friendly Relationships. Taking a Lover To Meet Your Friends.

Friendship: Friend Groups. Parties and Events With Friends. A Sweet Time With Friends. 

Money: Money Made In Groups. Money Made From Social Events. 

Career/Business/Work: Working With Groups of People. Harmonious Group Dynamics At Work. 

Four of Cups 

Keywords: Meditation. Isolation. Shutting Out Information. Trance. Transcendence.  

Love & Sex: Ignoring Potential Suitors. Not Listening To Your Partner’s Needs. Celibacy. 

Friendship: Not Returning Texts. Feeling Like You Don’t Have Friends. Isolation. 

Money: Focus On a Particular Stream of Income. Ignoring Sound Advice About Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Overworking To Avoid Emotional Problems. Honing Your Craft.

Five of Cups

Keywords: Grief. Loss. Counting Your Blessings. Reevaluation. Taking Things For Granted. 

Love & Sex: Grief Over a Lost Relationship. Emotionally Unfulfilling Sex. 

Friendship: Losing a Friend. Mourning Lost Relationships.

Money: Losing Money. Poverty Trauma.

Career/Business/Work: Underemployment. Considering Leaving Your Job.

Six of Cups

Keywords: Reunion. Innocence. Immaturity. Sharing. Mutual Aid. Karma. Children.

Love & Sex: Getting Back With an Ex. Synchronicities With a Karmic Link. A Younger Lover.

Friendship: A Younger Friend. Reunion With Friends. An Immature Friend.  

Money: New Beginnings With Money or Potentially a New Source of Income. 

Career/Business/Work: Working With Children or Teens. Harmonious Work Environments. 

Seven of Cups

Keywords: Choices. Illusions. Social Media/Online Environments. Spiritual Journeys. 

Love & Sex: Online Dating. Choosing Between Partners. Promises That Don’t Materialize. 

Friendship: Choosing Between Friendships. New Friendships You’re Idealizing.

Money: Money From Spiritual Work. Money With Hidden Strings.

Career/Business/Work: Choosing Between Jobs. Contracts That Aren’t Exactly As They Seem. 

Eight of Cups

Keywords: Moving On. Leaving the Past Behind. Ending Abusive Dynamics.  Disappointment.

Love & Sex: Trial Separation. Going To Bed Without Resolution. Sexual Disappointment. 

Friendship: Ending a Friendship. Recognizing Unhealthy Dynamics in a Friendship. 

Money: Financial Loss. Moving Forward With a Bad Investment. 

Career/Business/Work: Leaving a Dead End Job. Drudgery At Work.

Nine of Cups

Keywords: Wishes. Manifestation. Satisfaction. Pleasure. Egotism. 

Love & Sex: Great Sex. Manifesting a Partner. A Partner Who Is Too Good To Be True. 

Friendship: Trying To Make Friends Jealous. Wishing For Friends. Manifesting With Friends. 

Money: Manifesting Money. Desired Money Arrives.

Career/Business/Work: A Seemingly Perfect Job. A Job That Gives You a Big Head.

Ten of Cups

Keywords: Creating a Family. Lasting Love and Friendship. Joy. Abundance. 

Love & Sex: Excellent, Loving Sex. Life Partnerships. 

Friendship: Friends That Are Family. Happiness in Friendship.  

Money: Money Through Those You Love. Money That Comes With Happiness. 

Career/Business/Work: Joyful Work Environments. Family Businesses. 

Page of Cups

Keywords: Becoming Emotionally Aware. Naivete. Creative Beginnings.

Love & Sex: Getting Attached To a Casual Date. Emotional Hookups. Good First Dates. 

Friendship: New Friends. Playing With Friends.  

Money: A Small Amount of Money From a Creative Source. 

Career/Business/Work: Being Creative At Work. Creative Employment. Creative Apprenticeship.

Knight of Cups

Keywords: Fools Rush in. Pitching Woo. New Suitor or Date. 

Love & Sex: One of the Best Indications of a New Lover. Short, yet Passionate Romance. 

Friendship: A New Friend Who Becomes Emotionally Invested Quickly. An Earnest Friendship. 

Money: Money or News About Money Arrives Quickly From a Creative Source. 

Career/Business/Work: Delivering a Presentation With a Creative Element. 

Queen of Cups

Keywords: Nurturing. Parenting. Psychic Power. Mysterious Emotions. Femininity.

Love & Sex: Kind and Sweet Lover Who Can Be Overgiving. Sensitive Partners. 

Friendship: Friendships That Have a Caretaking Element. Caring Friendships. 

Money: Money Made Through Intuitive Prediction. Money Made in the Care Economy. 

Career/Business/Work: Work Helping Others. Working With Mothers. 

King of Cups

Keywords: Emotional Control. Creative Power. Self-Mastery Through Emotional Understanding. 

Love & Sex: An Emotional Lover. Drama Queens. Romantic Environments.  

Friendship: Friendships With People Who Like High Drama Settings. Emotionally Mature Friends.

Money: Money Made Through Others’ Emotional Responses. 

Career/Business/Work: Theater. Artistic Professions. Working For an Emotional Boss.

Minor Arcana: Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles

Keywords: Financial Beginnings. New Homes and Businesses. Beginnings of Stability.

Love & Sex: A New Relationship That Could Go Somewhere. Sex For Conception. 

Friendship: A New Dependable Friend. Money that comes through friends. 

Money: A New Source of Income That Could Last. Investing.

Career/Business/Work: A New Job. A Promotion. A Raise.

 Two of Pentacles

Keywords: Balance. Robbing Peter to Pay Paul. Juggling Responsibilities. Financial Fluctuation.

Love & Sex: Creating Balance in Relationships. Overwork That Affects a Relationship.   

Friendship: Juggling Social and Professional Responsibilities. Sharing Responsibilities.  

Money: Money Comes and Goes Fast. Economic Change. Stock Markets. Gambling.

Career/Business/Work: Promotion or Demotion. Revolving Door Jobs. 

Three of Pentacles

Keywords: Building. Collaboration. Creation. Communication. Religious Spaces. 

Love & Sex: Co-creating a Future With a Lover. Getting Serious.  

Friendship: Working With Friends. Creating Something With a Friend Group. 

Money: Money Made Collaboratively. Sometimes Money Made From Building and Construction. 

Career/Business/Work: Real Estate. Clergy. Construction. Working Together To Meet Goals. 

Four of Pentacles 

Keywords: Stinginess. Hoarding. Control Issues. Greed. Afraid To Let Go. 

Love & Sex: Selfishness in Bed. Controlling Your Partner. Putting Pressure On  a Relationship.

Friendship: Forcing a Friendship. Controlling Your Friends. Rubbing Your Gains in Their Face. 

Money: Holding On To Your Money. Greed. Bank Accounts.  

Career/Business/Work: Working With Money. Being Selfish At Work. 

Five of Pentacles

Keywords: Poverty. Unwilling To Ask For Help. Feeling Shut Out of Care. 

Love & Sex: Relationship Problems Caused By Financial Problems. Emotionally Cold Sex. 

Friendship: Feeling Shut Out of Friend Groups and Friendships. Friends Talking Behind Your Back. 

Money: Loss of Money. Needed Money Doesn’t Come Through. 

Career/Business/Work: Job Loss, Business Failure, Economic Problems. 

Six of Pentacles

Keywords: Charity. Philanthropy. Hierarchy. Provider. Financial Harmony.

Love & Sex: Making the Relationship Officiall. Crumbing. Stone Top/Pillow Queen Dynamic. 

Friendship: Lending Money To a Friend. Feeling Secure in a Friendship Due To Established Rules.

Money: Money Comes in From an Established Source. Money Through Charity or Venture Capital.

Career/Business/Work: Charity Work. Working in Philanthropy, NGOs, or Non-Profits.

Seven of Pentacles

Keywords: Investment. Patience. Sowing So You Can Reap. Doing the Hard Work.  

Love & Sex: Quality Time. Long Sexual Sessions. Orgasm Denial. 

Friendship: Long-Term Friendships. Investing Time Into Your Friendships

Money: Investing Your Money. High-Yield Savings Accounts. 

Career/Business/Work: Working Overtime. Working At Banks, Trusts, and Financial Institutions. 

Eight of Pentacles

Keywords: Apprenticeship. Higher Education. Philosophy. Working Towards a Professional Goal. 

Love & Sex: Breakthroughs. Learning Each Other’s Sexual Desires.. Working On a Relationship. 

Friendship: Friends Made Through School or Internships. 

Money: Money From Academic Gigs. Building Wealth. Grants. Fellowships. 

Career/Business/Work: Academia. Professorships. Internships. Apprenticeships. Mentors.

Nine of Pentacles

Keywords: Beauty. Isolation. Self-esteem. Healing Alone. Reaping the Fruit of Your Labors. 

Love & Sex: Relationships With People You Already Know. Masturbation. Friends To Lovers. 

Friendship: Lovers To Friends. Dinner Parties. Garden Parties. 

Money: Easy Money. Having More Than Enough Money. Abundance. 

Career/Business/Work: Gardener. Independent Wealth. Domestics. Home Offices.

Ten of Pentacles

Keywords: Inheritance. Elderhood. Wisdom. Maturity. Family. 

Love & Sex: Sex or Relationships With Older People. Solid Relationships. Families. 

Friendship: Very Well Established Friend Groups. Sou-Sou.  

Money: Money Gained Through Family or Inheritance. 

Career/Business/Work: Estate Planning. Wills. Working For Long-Established Organizations. 

Page of Pentacles

Keywords: Financial Support. Moving Toward Stability. 

Love & Sex: A New Prospect That Represents What You Ultimately Want in Love.

Friendship: Solid New Friends That Could Become Close Over Time.

Money: Small Amounts of Money From a Raise or a Small Promotion. 

Career/Business/Work: Financial Literacy and Education. Starting a Retirement Fund. 

Knight of Pentacles

Keywords: Money is Coming. Caught in a Financial or Career Whirlwind.  

Love & Sex: A Stable Prospect Arrives. A Reliable Lover. Reliable Orgasms, Quickly. 

Friendship: A Trustworthy Friend Arrives. News About a Close Friend. 

Money: Money Arrives Shortly. News About Money. Digital Banking (Venmo, PayPal, Cash App). Transfers.

Career/Business/Work: Bank Tellers. Truckers. Security Personnel. News About Income.

Queen of Pentacles

Keywords: Pregnancy. Growing Money. Watching Over Your Money. Patience. 

Love & Sex: A Good Spouse. Love That Creates Family Relationships. Submissives.

Friendship: Mom Friends. Friendships With People in Traditional Lifestyles. 

Money: Being a Good Steward of Your Own Money. Checking On Investments. 

Career/Business/Work: Stay At Home Parents. Daycare Workers. Teachers. On the Right Path.

King of Pentacles

Keywords: Financial Stability. Mastery in Career. Patriarchs and Matriarchs. 

Love & Sex: A Predictable, yet Stable Romantic Relationship. A Partner Suitable For Marriage.   

Friendship: Mature Friendships With People Who Are Established in Their Lives. 

Money: Money Made in Traditional Ways. Having Mature Insight On How To Make Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Bankers. Patrons of the Arts. Business People. Mastery in Career. 

[saltlickmp3]

I’d love to hear you talk about PJ Harvey and queerness, if you’re so inclined!

OH MY GOD ANON I LOVE YOU reveal yourself so i can kiss you /joking and platonic (unless...)

this is gonna be really long so TL,DR, A Lot of PJ's work can be interpreted to be about a sapphic and/or gender non conforming experience.

OKAYYYYY SO

PJ Harvey, despite having never actually said she isn't straight, has written some Very Queer music, both in subtext and fully in the lyrics.

a few examples -

Dress could be interpreted to be about feeling the pressure to be a stereotypically girly girl and trying to navigate social situations where it's expected you have a boyfriend -

'Must be a way that I can dress to please him It's hard to walk in the dress, it's not easy [...]

Filthy tight, the dress is filthy I'm falling flat, and my arms are empty Clear the way, better get it out of this room A falling woman in dancing costume'

but failing to do so because it's just not you. feeling uncomfortable in a dress, trying and failing to have normal interactions with guys - which of course cishet girls can feel as well, but hits particularly hard as a queer, gender non conforming, girl adjacent person

O Stella, while the symbolism makes it about a religious idol, could be interpreted to be about idolising an older girl. Oh My Lover is about being totally fine with a partner's hypothetical polyamory.

Man-Size is a big one, before i even knew the term gender envy i was Deeply Aware that that was what man-size is about (in my opinion, at least) - wanting to things that guys do but not being able to cos you're a girl.

'Good Lord I'm big I'm heading on Man-sized got my leather boots on Got my girl and she's a wow [...]

I'm man-sized no need to shout Let it all, let it all hang out / out out out'

fantasising about a reclaiming of power while presenting in a more masculine way - WITH A GIRLFRIEND I MIGHT ADD - before going back to feeling as though that is unattainable -

'Silence my lady head Get girl out of my head Douse hair with gasoline Set it light and set it free'

like, 'get girl out of my head' is a pretty queer thing to say, yknow?

and 50ft Queenie -

'Hey I'm one big queen No one can stop me [...]

Hey I'm the king of the world You ought to hear my song Ah come on measure me I'm twenty inches long'

which is at the same time using male terms - even though the song is called Queenie, and that word is used a lot, she specifically calls herself King of the world, and proceeds to make fun of the perceived importance of a particular male organ, while at the same time saying she's better than them

more songs with gender and lesbian undertones - Yuri G, Catherine, to a degree A Woman A Man Walked By / The Crows Knows Where the Children Go (that one's quite explicit, word of warning if yu haven't heard that one before) - and songs that are covers of songs written by men without any pronoun changing - Shake Your Hips and I Can't Get No Satisfaction are two notable examples of that.

and then there are her songs that are just sapphic without being specifically gendery - My Beautiful Leah, Claudine the Inflatable One - i first thought that Down By the Water was about sneaking out to meet a sapphic lover under the bridge in the dead of night, a doomed romance, but there are lots of better and far more likely interpretations than that.

Polly herself has also said a lot of things that just kinda read queer. Like Patti Smith before her, she has said that she writes her songs from a place 'beyond gender', and just writes them as stories, sometimes from a male perspective. But of course, to a queer audience, you can hear her singing and *know* she's singing from a male perspective, but also can't help but to hear it as queer as well.

bit of a quote to go with that -

You've said that you don't like to think in terms of gender when it comes to music. Why do you think the gender issue, especially the concept of you being a feminist, is constantly mentioned with your work?

'I can only presume that, especially in the early days and early those labels tend to stick, but I know that I really played with gender in my lyrics, and I might sing in the shape of a man or I might sing in the shape of a woman. Or I might be dressing women in a loving way as a man or as a woman, or sometimes as neither. Sometimes more as just an essence, a feeling or an atmosphere. And I think that feels quite natural to me, but I think for some people it's not natural, and that's where the gender issue seems to become quite important.'

she was also adamant that she didn't want to be seen as part of riot grrrl, but rather as part of grunge - grunge was a very very aggressively male genre, and i don't think she thought riot grrrl had the right idea about how to go about empowerment - she took herself more seriously than that i think. she didn't want to be called a feminist, because she didn't want to be called a 'female artist', but rather just an Artist.

her gender presentation, moving from fairly neutral in 1992 (big black leather jacket, black boots etc, to the hyper-feminity of the To Bring You My Love era, 1995, also comes into play - she was showing femininity to be a performance, while also using it to her advantage, she didn't actually dress like that normally, no one wears that much eyeshadow, it was closer to a drag show than an actual outfits, a lot of the stuff she wore on stage. which is another one of those things that makes sense to a cishet girl, but gains more complexity as a queer person.

there's probably a lot more i can say on this, but that's everything off the top of my head! i cannot tell you how excited i was to get this ask, PJ Harvey is so much of how i've explored my own gender and sexuality, i could talk about this for a very long time!

[krystaldeath]

Cult of The Lamb hc’s (part of me feels like I should wait till I play the game myself - or watch a full playthrough at least - before I “solidify” these but meh. For now at least these are how I see things):

* Kinda typical hc I feel like but Leshy is the youngest, then it’s Heket, Narinder, Kallamar, and then Shamura is the oldest.

* Idk what their ages would be chronologically wise but my personal hc’s for “biological” age are: Leshy (21), Heket (25), Narinder (27), Kallamar (32), and Shamura (40). I think Lamb is about 200 years chronologically but 28 “biologically” (I think it’s funny if they’re “older” than Narinder)

* I don’t have a name for them yet but my version of the Yellow Cat is a little bit fucked up actually. Like they seem chill and they kinda are? But they’ve got a body count. And no not the sex kind. Think of that one audio where the guy answers the body count with 30 and when it’s clarified that it’s about sex he’s like “Oh well I haven’t done that yet!” And the other persons like “WHAT DOES 30 MEAN THEN???”

* I need y’all to know I project onto The Lamb HARD. So yeah, they always wanted to be kind and sorta made it a big part of their personality. Unfortunately their world and circumstances just doesn’t allow for their kindness. They still try to be as kind as they can be, but it’s hard when you’re slowly ascending to godhood, especially into the god of death.

* Also Agender Lamb. They/Them and ONLY They/Them Lamb all the way. Demi ro & sex & pan. They’re a?ab (assigned ??? At birth; bc I can’t decide but if you MUST know I think they can shapeshift a bit now so. Maybe they forgot themself lol). Presents androgynously, leaning either way whenever they feel like it. They have a more masc voice though I think, like the ones people use in comic dubs a lot.

* Once I figure out how to draw (could stop it there I am Rusty) anthropomorphic animals it’s over for y’all (Translation: I will draw my self insert and The Lamb being kinda fucked up Besties)

* ((PLEASE ASK ME ABOUT MY SELF INSERT AND OTHER OC INSERTS I HAVE FOR THIS THE BRAIN ROT IS SO REAL))

* The cotl fandom is filled with queer people who’ve got some level of religious trauma, let me recommend a recent song I’ve been looping and imagining a cotl/narilamb animatic to: Collared by Vane Lily (look it up on YouTube to watch the fun mv first!) WARNING IT IS HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE

* I’ve been flip flopping a bit on what species she’d be but I have ideas for a follower love interest for Heket! At first I thought a bunny, then a bee, and currently feeling like a bat would be cute. Idk but I do see her as a warrior type who also likes to bake and do cutesy things too

* I think once the bishops become followers their injuries are worse but they can still “work” around them: Leshy can kinda see things if they’re up close. Heket can sorta speak but not fast and she’s got. Well not a sore throat bc. She doesn’t have one of those anymore. But something akin to that constantly. Kallamar can only hear loud things or if someone spoke into his ear directly (he only allows those in his polycule and his siblings (minus Narinder) to get that close). Shamura does get a bit lost in their own mind, and even when they’re more conscious their memory is spotty.

* Back to my Yellow Cat being a bit fucked up: They actually really liked the idea of chaos (though they hardly show it) so when they find out Leshy was the bishop of chaos instead of being scared or unnerved they’re like “*twirls hair (fur??)* ha ha ha, omg, really~?”

* *slaps the top of The Lamb, Leshy, and probably so many others don’t underestimate me* these bitches can fit so much adhd (+ autism probably) in them

* Probably (geez I use that word a lot huh?) got more hc’s, especially for other characters, but this is already pretty long so I’ll leave it here for now

[electric-rabbits]

I couldn't properly synchronize the audio, but still, I felt like adding english subtitles to yesterday's scene from brazillian telenovela Terra e Paixão. If you're not latino, you may not know the impact that the telenovelas have in certain parts of the population. Hundreds of thousands of families every day gather up around the television just to see what will happen next- especially older people and people from inner cities. This one airs in the "noble airtime", the one that's most watched because it happens after people came home from their 9 to 5s.

I have a lot of criticisms as to how this couple is being written, especially because they started out as comic relief and the author seems to be refusing to let them develop past that. These two have been flirting for more than one hundred chapters and still haven't as much as kissed; and it's no secret that it's all because the channel is afraid of receiving homophobic backlash. But at the same time, all this dancing around each other fits the story in some way: it's all about a man who'd never been loved before having to come to terms with the fact that he's in love with another man. In the show, Ramiro is a working hand who was "raised" by his boss. He never studied, never had any opportunities, and learned from a very young age that his role in this world is to be aggressive and follow commands. He's treated less as a person and more as a rabid dog, and sure acts the part, hurting and killing the people his boss tells him to. And then he meets Kelvin, an openly gay man who starts showing him his worth for way beyond his job and his gun. They hit it off right away, their chemistry is fucking insane, except that there's one problem: the only thing Ramiro feels like he has in this world is his masculinity, and he feels threatened by his own emotions. He doesn't think he's allowed to love, especially not like this. And in a show that gets to the houses of thousands of people; including thousands of Ramiros who never had the chance to be happy, they finally had a scene openly talking about how it is possible to love. More than that, Kelvin, that so far had been only understanding and accepting of the few demonstrations of affection he could get, finally expressed the fact that he has his own feelings and refuses to be held back by what society thinks; so Ramiro can either follow him of fall behind. And this scene aired in a very important week here in Brazil: as queer people, our rights to get married are being questioned by congress. To have the telenovela that airs in "noble airtime" openly talk about how gay people can and will get married and start families is huge. And it's huge not just because of the people who are watching and finding themselves in the characters, but because of all the others who are watching as well. My mom, who wouldnt talk to me for days after I came out, now waits patiently until I get home just so she can tell me what happened with the gay couple in the telenovela she watches religiously. Yesterday, after this scene aired, my mom came to talk to me and we talked about how awful it is to have my rights questioned. Maybe thousands of moms out there were doing, or thinking, the same. Anyways, all of this to say that life is shit right now, and the representation queer people in marginalized countries get is far from being the best, but this scene got to me and I wanted other people to see it, all around the globe.