#being trans in america right now is scary

[thingstrumperssay]

So this is fucking insane.

There's some Trump who believed that he was being targeted by the police for not believing in gay and women's rights and was Tweeting while on a standoff against them.

They were there because people reported a possible domestic abuse situation and were worried about his very young daughter. (About four weeks old.) It's also implied that he might have kidnapped his daughter from her mother but from what I've read that hasn't been explicitly stated.

Every tweet he made about his daughter was like "thank you Trump for not letting them mutilate my daughter!" which is a very normal thing to constantly think about when you're a father and not at all makes you sound like an insane lunatic who's constantly paranoid about trans people's existence.

His wife is eighteen, by the way, so there's a good chance that he raped her when she was seventeen.

He posted this insane video when the police were there. Now he's dead. His paranoia over queer people and abortion rights let him get killed. (That, and him being an abusive piece of shit.)

He also killed a dog in the process, so add an extra "fuck him" for that.

The fact that this even flew under so many people's radars (including mine) for days has some scary implications. Specifically "Trump supporters being paranoid lunatics is so common, it's barely news" and "gun culture is so insane in America that this is barely news."

By the way, they tried not to shoot him until he shot at them first. The police have killed black people for having ex-boyfriends who are wanted, but this white guy holds his daughter hostage and they try not to kill him until it was necessary.

[orionbee]

im begging my insurance and my prescriber to fucking get in contact i want to start hrt

[autism-swagger]

I think I was meant to be a capybara

[iloveyouhoneybear]

mexico is looking more and more appealing… self deportation era coming

[so-i-did-this-thing]

hey, i know you probably hear this a lot, but thank you for being so cool and an awesome older trans role model. i just discovered your blog recently, but you’ve already helped me a lot honestly.

i’m a trans teenager and the world is really scary right now. i’m terrified i won’t be able to even try to transition for a while cause of a combination of family and the current dumpster fire beginning in america. seeing stuff like your content is really encouraging, thank you.

We're all extremely vulnerable right now, and whatever we can do to help each other - even if it's a simple, "I'm here, and I'm scared, just like you" is going to mean so much to a lot of people right now.

Fascists want to isolate us, just like any abuser, and a simple "I'm still here" helps so much with the loneliness. I'm sure this Ask is already helping another scared teen feel a little less on their own. ❤️

I expect a lot of gaslighting in the near future and it's not only OK, but is helpful to remind each other that we're scared.

You can do a lot of brave things while you're scared, and it's easier to do so when you don't feel like you're alone.

[avelera]

"Weirdness", Decency, and the Historical Echoes of Walz's tide-turning call-out of MAGA

At the risk of writing a high school paper about American politics in 2024, I think there's a historical echo that I'd like to add to the conversation of why Walz calling MAGA people, "weird" seems to finally armed Democrats with a line of personal attacks against MAGA that resonates with voters and seems to have overall broken the spell on this, well, weird behavior by them.

I think the one line of discussion that I haven't seen explored as to why the "weird" attack seems to be working to call out this aptly-named behavior by the far right in America is its similarity to the end of another far right movement in America: McCarthy's Red Scare.

It is popularly attributed that the moment, the quote, that brought about the end of the Red Scare was this:

"Until this moment, senator, I think I never gauged your cruelty or recklessness . . . . Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

Special Counsel for the U.S. Army Joseph N. Welch confronting Sen. Joseph McCarthy (source)

Many historical accounts will say this is the moment the spell broke with McCarthy. That this is the moment when Americans looked around like the naval officer at the end of Lord of the Flies and basically said, "What the hell is going on here?"

I think Walz's "weird" quote is this moment.

I've been waiting for this moment to occur with MAGA for some time. It did indeed feel as if no amount of pointing out the lunacy, the absurdity, of the movement was enough. I think other commentators might be right when saying that appealing to how dangerous they are, how scary they are, wasn't working. I could speculate on a variety of reasons for this, like that people like to be part of the winning side and being "scary" can feel good. Or that because of Godwin's Law it's nearly impossible to impress upon people how serious and swift the rise of fascism can be even when it's right in front of you, because no one wants to believe that "our sort of people" would do that sort of thing.

But calling out the MAGA movement as "weird" seems to be working because it echoes Welch's "decency" attack. It is treating childish behavior with the response it deserves. It's huff of exasperation, it's the admonishment of the social choir saying, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you care about other people's personal lives so much? Why the hell are you trying to ban books like the Nazis did? Why are you going after women and immigrants and trans kids? Why can't you just be a good neighbor and leave people alone? At long last have you no sense of decency?"

We're tired of it. The MAGA movement has gone too far beyond the wishes of the moderate "silent majority" (such as it is and that's its own topic of debate) and is now obsessed with its own culture war issues that have grown increasingly detached from anything anyone really cares about day to day except for their die hards. And those die hards are so out of touch they don't realize it happened.

If I may end on one last rumination, I think that part of the reason the MAGA movement has lost touch is because of Trump's skill at marketing. Now, I loathe pretty much every aspect of the man, I struggle to think of any point on which I don't, but there is one thing, one thing I'll give him credit for which is being an arguably generational talent at marketing, branding, and self-promotion. He's good at getting his name on things and making them all about him (before he inevitably runs them into the ground).

But the thing is with marketing, you do a thing called A/B testing. You see which message resonates the most. And if a feel-good ad gets you 30% response and a misogynistic ad gets you 60% response, you go with that misogynistic one because the numbers support it (I actually saw this happen with an ad campaign so it's based on personal experience).

Now, if you notice that 16 year old boys really like your product and if you sell to them, you move more product, even if you lost the interest of everyone else, you're still doing a good job at moving your product (see Hollywood for the last few decades). Because a large, certain audience is better in marketing than trying to achieve broad but tepid appeal.

But the thing in politics is that you actually do have to expand your appeal. You have to get over 50% in the US. That means expanding the coalition, appealing to more people. But that runs counter to the way a lot of product marketing would work, where you'd single out your best audience and market aggressively to them because you'll get a better return. That, I think, is why Trump risks losing the middle even as he has the right locked down. He is a marketer, not a politician. He has his reliable audience. But that reliable audience isn't enough to win office. It's just enough to get reliable buyers of his product. And he doesn't know how to expand beyond them.

To bring this all back to "weirdness" and "decency", I think this too plays into what we're seeing. The MAGA movement has turned in on itself through its constant marketing to itself, always seeking a bigger outrage, a bigger sequel to bring people to the theater. That has put it out of touch with the wider mainstream. It's made them weird, a weird subculture within America that is not in touch with what most people want out of their government.

At least, that's what I hope. We'll find out in a few months now, won't we?

[dasloddl]

You know what I'm scared of, now with Trump winning, and the German government falling apart, and the possible re-election next year because of that, and the right-wing party (AfD) rising so quickly? That they could very well have a shot at (I don't even want to say it) playing a major role in our government now...

I think benoftheweek gave a pretty good comment about that:

"I would caution people dismissing or just like in general laughing or taking lightly the American election if you're not from America because it really truly does have trickle down effects. [...]

Trump winning in 2016 followed a very extremely like kind of right-wing wave across Europe. [...]

These right-wing parties basically are the biggest fucking fans of Donald Trump. [...]

If you live in a country that is leaning right, they will be emulating everything that Trump does. Everything that Trump gives like an inch to - in terms of like rolling back Environmental Protections, rolling back rights on trans people, immigration - they will literally copy because whether we fucking like it or not, the United States is like running shit in the world. [...]

I mean it in like a "the rest of the world is held hostage by the United States". [...]

The the benefit of not being in the US is you have an election coming up at some point. [...]

We have a chance to not let the same shit happen to us."

this shit is scary and we really have to watch out (AND VOTE for goodness sake) to stop this shit from happening to us

[slasheru]

hello student disembody! things are kind of scary in America right now! I am sorry for being a bit quiet lately but rest assured things over here are as trans and angry as ever and I am still dedicated to bringing you the finest most advanced gayest loudest angriest installment of this video game series yet. as ordinary things likes to say: don't let the bastards grind you down

[shakespearean-dream]

last of the big five yall!!!!

happy late fourth of july! remember to keep boycotting, speak out and listen to palestinians, the people of congo, native americans, queer/trans people and women currently being oppressed this independence day because america fucking sucks!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅🔥🔥🔥

here are a couple good places to donate! please remember to do your own research and take care of each other, it’s getting scary out here.

ohhhh nimdok, where to start with you….

i have been dreading doing him because he pisses me off so bad but i actually had some decent fun with him :D. designing him and branching out farther away from his canon self was nice, but im not touching his backstory or personality really, that stays about the same for me in my head.

speaking of whichhh! like benny, i understand how the game makers had a short amount of time to fit an entire character arc of an old man undoing his deeply internalized racism/xenophobia/ableism in a singular short scenario, but unlike benny i actually somehow like his better?? nimdok had a lot more to get over (well not saying being a dickhead murderer isn’t a lot but 😭) and i enjoyed seeing him actually help out the people he would’ve previously turned in. it still feels a little hollow/unrealistic because again, he’s been like this his whole life, but considering how much AM takes him away from the group to (most likely) psychologically torture him for his actions he’s probably had a bit of a revelation.

doing his scenario was unfortunately funny at times because of the strange way we had to go about redeeming him with the golem guy😭giving him a smooch caught me off guard but ykw? i’ll take it for being able to kill mengele like immediately afterward. also speaking of whichhhh…

i would go into more detail about nimdok and mengeles relationship to give it some depth because god i love me some queers, but that is??? a real fucking guy???? a real life monster???? im less than comfortable picturing the fucker in my mind, much less giving him depth with a character who i also don’t like. like why ship ur essentially OC with a REAL LIFE N/AZI??? just another one of the reasons harlan elision creeps me out. (if that just pissed you off google search him s/a-ing 2 people, marrying a 19 year old when he was in his 40s and defending a child r/apist i really don’t feel like arguing with you. the guy was a horrible fucking person and he makes me sick, i just like this franchise.)

i cannot cough up anymore thoughts about this fella pls forgive me; these past couple days have been rough on my 3 brain cells. AM will for sure be next and after that fully rendered/decked out full bodies are in order!! so look out for that:]]]] i may also start posting some art fight things since i was just complaining about the lag a post or so ago☺️ jk ily artfight. team seafoam lets goo

ok i love u guys!!! if u have any requests for me drop a comment or an ask, and thank you so much for the continued support on my art❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ lots of links on this post but one more quick reminder to take a look at my commission page if you’d like!!! yolanda is still in the shop because they cannot figure out what’s wrong with her :(

have a good night friends 🫶

[decaffloki]

being trans in america right now is very very scary, and something about seeing "protect trans kids" in the new spiderverse movie just. means so much to me

[pastelstarmie]

HI AMY I THINK YOU'RE LOVELY AND WONDERFUL AND HORSE IS LOVELY AND WONDERFUL AND YOU GUYS HAVE LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFEEEE sorry if this is a lot!! i am just so excited that i found you and eloise (who i already askboxed) on tumblr!! your music is amazing and horse is in my top two favorite bands (and you guys are my favorite punk band <3333)!! if you ever come to america i will be the first person to buy a ticket!!!!

uhhhh question how does one have the courage to be unapologetically themselves in a trans and queer way?

anyways thank ya love ya thank ya byeeeeeee

Hey Willow/Liam/M,

Awww, thank you so much!! I think you're wonderful and lovely too!!!! That's amazing and so kind to hear!!! I'm really glad our music has like resonated with you and had such a positive experience that's really awesome and I'm so so glad!! It's not a lot at all, please don't worry!

Thank you so much!!! That's so sweet of you to say!! Who is the other band?? I have to know now!!! We would love to come to America sometime, logistically it's not easy, but we have friends who it'd be awesome to see again and it'd be cool to see you at a show when we finally are able to make our way over there!!

That's such a tough question and it's not always an easy thing! But that's here on TERF island, I can't imagine the difficulties in the US right now, and I'm sorry that it must be so hard out there!

Oh! My answer, though (there's no one answer to this) it starts with following your joy, doing what makes you happy and makes you feel good! It's part being your own hype person and bigging yourself up like you would a friend! When you find that euphoria and express that to the world being like heck yeah!! I'm awesome!! It's also part surrounding yourself with the right people and community, its so much easier to be yourself and be as unapologetically you, when you have people in your corner that see that, cheer for that and will protect that! It's not letting others get into your head and following the "rules" (there are no rules!!) of how to be trans or queer and instead doing what you want to do! It's about understanding that people who say rude shit, give you funny looks and want to start fights are just insecure and afraid, they're afraid of knowledge and learning and are insecure about themselves and find their perceptions challenged and don't know what to do, so they lash out, and it's not your fault or anything you're doing wrong. In fact, it's because you're so good at being yourself and accepting yourself and loving yourself that they can't handle it!

It takes time to get there, I honestly still feel like I'm getting there too! There's times where it might feel scary or unsafe, I know there's times where I'm alone and not with the other Horses or my friends and have to face the world and it's scary being myself, but the joy is worth the risk and challenge! Lastly, though, and this is so important, always be safe, look out for yourself and your friends, stay in a group when you can, and be vigilant when you're not in friendly spaces!

Sorry, that was such a long answer!!! I hope maybe some of that helps, and it isn't just me waffling on! Thank you again for the ask, and for reaching out, I hope you're doing OK and having a good day!!

Thank you, love you, thank you, bye!!!

[sixty-silver-wishes]

well, it's fourth of july. if you're like me, and you're in the us, you're probably feeling pessimistic right now, given the state of things. I made a joke post about how I feel about it the other day that blew up, and tbh I'm not surprised. that being said, I'd like to talk a bit more in detail about my thoughts on the matter this year.

so, to begin with, it's pretty obvious why I'm feeling so disillusioned this year. the us presidential election isn't looking good, fascism is on the rise and seems to be met mainly with apathy, the us is aiding in genocide in gaza, while many politicians are restricting the rights of american civilians, especially those belonging to marginalized groups- abortion is being criminalized, as is trans healthcare, and rulings have been upheld gerrymandering black-majority voting districts, not to mention the state of education surrounding POC and queer history. the supreme court is out of control. climate change gets worse every year, with consequences all around the world; hurricane beryl's early arrival and its devastation of the caribbean was just one more instance of the worsening state of the environment. russia is still invading ukraine, with global tensions worsening as multiple major powers battle for global prominence. all that is to say, it's a scary time to live pretty much anywhere in the world, and given the slew of problems in the united states, it's impossible to feel a shred of patriotism as many people of prominence in our country either worsen or are otherwise complicit in many of the aforementioned issues.

all that being said, I want to begin by saying that I don't think you're necessarily a bad person if you celebrate fourth of july. I don't think guilting people is a productive way to go about things, or to alleviate any feelings of cognitive dissonance. I don't know why everyone is celebrating; maybe you want to focus on the positive aspects of american culture, such as its diversity or the accomplishments of those who have been able to advocate for themselves despite oppression from within their own country. or maybe you just want a day off to spend with your family and friends, without anything to do with america. what you do today is your business, and it's not up to me to police what you should or shouldn't do.

I do, however, want to offer some resources for those of you like me, who feel like we can't celebrate. I don't think we should be paralyzed by guilt and do nothing, but I also acknowledge that what we can do varies from person to person. maybe you can do a mix of both- spend the day with your family while also taking time to engage with these resources. You don't have to engage with all of them, but I would appreciate if people took the time with these resources, whether it means educating themselves on various issues or donating money to a cause. So, here are some I think deserve some attention:

NDN Collective: NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization that focuses on sustainability, the Land Back movement, intersectional activism, and climate justice.

Native Land Digital: This interactive digital map shows the location of precolonial Indigenous land around the world, so you can find whose land you're living on. Clicking on a location on the map may provide you with links affiliated with specific tribes or Indigenous groups, allowing you to learn more about the history, culture, and issues regarding Indigenous peoples in the area where you live. For instance, I live on Seminole land, and clicking on the Seminole area of the map leads me to the official Seminole tribe website.

The Afiya Center: The Afiya center is a Texas-based organization that focuses on reproductive health issues regarding Black women and AFAB people in Texas. This includes abortion and contraceptive resources, as well as preventing STI's.

Zebra Youth: Zebra Youth is a Florida-based organization that provides resources to LGBT adolescents, such as housing and mental health resources.

Operation Olive Branch: Operation Olive Branch is a spreadsheet that contains various verified fundraisers to help people evacuate or survive in Gaza during the current genocide.

Healing Our Homeland: An organization that delivers food and humanitarian relief to Palestinians.

Nova Ukraine: Delivers humanitarian relief to Ukraine.

ASAN: Autism Self-Advocacy Network- An autistic-led organization that aims to better representation for autistic people, provide educational resources, and improve accommodations.

This article contains links to relief efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Beryl.

Of course, please remember to vote this year! As bad as the choices are, either a democrat or a republican will be the president in 2025, and organizing for progress is going to be a hell of a lot easier under one than the other. For now, let's continue to uplift our communities, provide support where we can, and continue to learn about intersectional issues and diverse viewpoints.

[frostworkxfiction]

I try not to post political things here and who everyone voted for is none of my business. I'm not here to debate over politics, I'm not a political kind of guy. What I will say is that if you follow me and you voted for Trump, block me right the fuck now.

This country makes me sick. How could y'all put that personified cantaloupe in office again? Did we learn nothing last time? If you voted for Trump, I wish you a most sincere

Fuck. You.

You have condemned not only me but my friends, my community, and many of the people I care about. There are thousands of my fellow trans siblings contemplating whether or not it's worth it to keep living or not because of people like you. If that makes you happy, then you are a despicable, sad, evil human being and I wish you nothing but the worst. Shame on you, America.

To my fellow girls, gays, and theys, we tried. We fought hard but this is not the end of this fight. You have to keep going, keep fighting, show these monsters that they cannot take us down without a fight. My DMs are open to anyone who needs a listening ear. I know things are scary right now and I'm terrified too but we need to stick together.

[infatuatedlilbitch]

LOSING HOPE? YOU NEED TO READ THIS

I'm sick and fucking tired of all the "hopefully a meteor hits Earth so we don't have to deal with this" jokes. I'm especially tired of Americans acting like if the US falls, the whole world ends. How fucking self-centered can you be? Even if the US were eradicated, the rest of the world would still exist.

Just because you're still caught up in the brainwashing from your history classes, and YOU aren't ready to put in the work to confront your part in white supremacy and the things that led us here today... that doesn't mean the answer is to throw up your hands and imply everyone should die. What the FUCK is wrong with y'all?

And you know what else? The US is NOT fucking over. If you think it's over, then YOU specifically associated it with awful, awful things. If you can't fathom what needs to change in this country and what YOU need to do to start changing it, then it's time to get out of your bubble. Follow just ONE person who looks different than you online. Someone who's just living their daily fucking life. We're still so segregated, but you can get online and seek out information beyond your bubble.

Many Americans are discovering for the first time how the American government is ACTUALLY supposed to work. Don't stop there. Go find out that many of the rights you have were won for you by Black trans women. One of the most oppressed groups in society fought for EVERY LGBTQ person's rights - not just their own. When shit got hard, when the world got fucking scary, did they say "well fuck it, let's just throw up our hands and give up because it's too hard"? No!

This "end times" mentality is leftover evangelical Christian Revelations bullshit. What's happening in America right now isn't the apocalypse. Change and replacing the system we have will be hard. There will be growing pains - THESE ARE GROWING PAINS. The cracks in the system are being HELLA exposed, and millions of people who were putting their hands over their ears going "lalalalala" can't anymore.

Sorry you have to work hard to see a better world. Sorry hoping takes WORK and EFFORT. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD I WORK TO HOPE THIS HARD?

And quit fucking doomsday prepping, white people. If you have enough energy to DOOMSDAY PREP, then you have enough energy to make a community garden - to ACTUALLY benefit more than just you and your immediate family.

AMERICAN INDIVIDUALISM NEEDS TO END.

THANK YOU FOR READING.

[awkwardcreature789]

“Not to be political-“ no shut up I fully intend to state my piece on the country right now-

Please please please read 🙏 I want help and advice

I turn 18 in like ten days, I am so genuinely terrified for my future that I fully intend on getting the fuck out of this country. I’m non binary and I have a trans boyfriend who I fully intend to marry in the future. I’m disabled and I am also AFAB. Seeing all this shit go down like 1940’s Germany is so scary because I don’t feel safe in my own home country. My family is supportive of me and I love them but I know that I cannot stay in America, from everything political happening and the shit healthcare system and awful inflation happening.

What the hell do I do?

Ideally I’d like to go to Germany. I know lots of countries offer visas and possible homes for residence and such. I’ve done a bit of research but I don’t feel confident with it since it’s really been all like tourist trap websites and stuff.

I need somewhere with either free to cheap healthcare, LGBTQIA+ friendly, somewhere safe, remote jobs available, and ideally English speaking.

I would also like to be able to go ASAP as well, and somewhere where my boyfriend can get a job as well (he was thinking of being an engineer or an electrician, something along those lines)

Does even a place like that exist? I’m desperate at this point and I’m so incredibly overwhelmed.

Where do I even get a remote job actually?? I apply on dozens of websites and nobody messages me back at all or all I get is spam emails- I’m good at creativity and art, but I’m also autistic and phone calls terrify me-

I feel helpless, I don’t know where to start or what to do, please please help me out and give me advice or any information you have

[nikocannoteven]

I would just like to say that as someone just on the cusp of being able to vote, I am livid. I know people who "don't care about politics," so they didn't vote or they wrote in a video game character. I am so pissed because I would've done anything to have been able to have voted in this election. If you voted third party or write-in, hey, I just have to say that I love that you feel like you can afford to do that. As a trans person, I don't know what the future holds for me. I am fucking terrified. America has elected a felon and a rapist. What standard are Americans portraying to other countries and the next generation of Americans?

To all the people who say, "well I don't care" or "it doesn't affect me", respectfully fuck you. Even if it doesn't directly impact you, it will directly impact the women, queer people, trans people, and people of color in your life. It will impact your mother, your grandmother, your aunt, your sister, your daughter, your niece. Somehow, in some way, it will impact you. Even if it doesn't directly impact you, are we not worried about other people? Do we lack empathy? Women, poc, and lgbtq+ people are in danger because of Donald Trump and the conservative party. Countless women have already died under his policies, and because of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

To all the trans and queer people in America, I am sorry. It will be okay, maybe not now but it will be okay. To any trans or queer person who keeps seeing people posting about what to do when Trump is in office and the first thing on the list is "if you know a trans or gay person, no you don't" I see you. It's scary. I will not be forced into silence, and I will not pretend not to know people. I will not throw people under the bus to save my ass. I see you and I'm scared too.

I am livid. I can not even express how I feel right now. I saw the results and almost broke down. I don't know what to even say or who to talk to. I am devastated, I am pissed, and I am tired.