#driving LGBTQ people out of public life

[novy2sirius]

numerstrology notes.

₊˚⊹ some astrologers believe astrology and numerology cannot collide but personally i have found the degrees in astrology to accurately align with numerology — tw: killing/murder

the most common beauty degrees are 1º, 2º, 5º, 9º, 14º, 18º, 23º, 25°, and 27º placed in the sun, moon, ascendant, venus, and neptune. people with these degrees in these placements will get told they’re beautiful a lot by people and will be seen as very beautiful to society

having the sun, venus, or jupiter at 8°/13°/24°/28° can indicate gaining wealth at some point in your lifetime as these are numbers associated with wealth and money

you’ll often find that successful actors have prominent 5°/9°/14°/18°/23°/27° in their chart. usually the ascendant, moon, mars, midheaven, or neptune

your midheaven at 7°/9° is an indication of being known by the public for your intelligence since 7 is the number of intelligence and 9 is the number of the mind. albert einstein has this placement

mercury at 4°/13°/22° can indicate that you had a very challenging childhood and were often misunderstood by a lot of people. you may have been very insecure as a child as well

people with saturn at 6°/15°/24° often have a toxic family or a toxic family member that they end up having to cut out of their life when they’re older so they can be happier

having both the degrees 1° and 11° in your big 3 can be challenging especially placed in the sun and ascendant. it can mean you struggle a lot finding out who you are and what path you want to take in life more so than other people

people with mars at 7°/16°/25° are often a part of the lgbtq+ community because these numbers are most prone to being a part of the community and mars is associated with our sexuality

people with pluto at 9°/18°/27° have the ability to do really well with crypto and make a lot of money from it. pluto and 9 in numerology are both associated with extremes

having your mars at 1° can mean you attract a lot of enemies and jealous people. these people tend to get hated on for absolutely no good reason. mars represents enemies and 1 is a number that can be associated with jealousy in numerology

don’t become enemies with someone that has their pluto at 1°/10°. you will regret it. they’re quite vengeful and hold grudges when someone hurts them. pluto represents things like revenge and 1 is the number of aggression/grudges

people with venus at 7°/16°/25° do not like dating dumb dumbs. if you want to keep them you need to have brains. ditziness drives them crazy. they are most attracted to smart people and people that can teach them a lot. the only reason they would stay with someone long term who was dumb is for good sex

people with multiple 11°/29° placements usually hang out with people older than them. they’re old souls and often mature very quickly from a younger age than most. they’re the type to say their first word at 3 months old and be potty trained by 1 years old

it’s rare to find someone with jupiter at 5°/14°/23° that’s not entertaining. jupiter is associated with abundance and 5 in numerology represents entertainment

22 degrees can actually be associated with killing. i know this is controversial and astrologers try not to discuss things like this but in numerology 22 is associated with destruction so often it represents things like violent tendencies. 4 in general can be a more violent number. i have found a lot of people who have either been murdered or murdered someone else have this degree but don’t worry because obviously majority of people with this degree have been fine. it just means the people who DO/HAVE will often have this degree. 24 is another one that’s common

on a more positive note 22° can be great for becoming an author. especially when placed in the midheaven, mercury, or in jupiter

[pedropascalsx]

PEDRO PASCAL BIRTHDAY PROJECT 2023!!!

DONATE HERE:

Join us in fundraising for abortion access in honor of Pedro Pascal’s 48th birthday!

We’re raising money for the Kentucky Health Justice Network, an abortion fund in Kentucky, to celebrate Pedro’s upcoming birthday. Each spring, abortion funds across the United States participate in the National Network of Abortion Funds’ Fund-a-Thon, the biggest fundraising drive of the year for abortion access. We’ve set up a fundraising team for KHJN, Pedro Fans 4 Abortion Rights, and invite you do donate to help us reach our goal!

Who are you?

We’re Cristina @pedropascalsx and Leslie @leslie-lyman two Pedro fans who are also passionate about reproductive justice.

How can I get involved?

You can donate via the Pedro Fans 4 Abortion Rights team to the Kentucky Health Justice Network here: https://fund.nnaf.org/team/488084. You do not have to join the team as a member to donate to the team’s fundraising effort, the team just lets us keep track of how much total money we’ve raised (kinda like a GoFundMe). All of your money goes directly to the fund; we do not handle donations directly, and have no access to your financial or personal info.

Can I donate anonymously?

Yes! Just make sure you check the “Hide my name from the public” box when filling out the donation form.

What is your fundraising goal?

We’re starting out with a goal of $480 since Pedro is turning 48. If we hit that goal, we’ll increase it!

Why an abortion fund?

Abortion is health care, and abortion rights are human rights. Last year, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, erasing the federal right to abortion that had existed for the past 50 years. Since last summer, abortion access has been outright banned in 13 states and severely restricted in many others, with devastating consequences for pregnant people across the country.

Pedro has always been vocal about his support for all kinds of social justice, including abortion rights. He even posted about how to support abortion access, including donating to abortion funds, on his Instagram shortly after the Dobbs decision (https://www.instagram.com/p/CffboxVpneY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=). Funding abortion is more important than ever before, and we wanted to fundraise for a cause that we support, that Pedro supports, and that will go towards ensuring access to a fundamental human right.

Why the Kentucky Health Justice Network?

After the overturning of Roe v Wade, abortion became completely illegal in Kentucky, with only very narrow exceptions for the life of the mother. The Kentucky Health Justice Network does incredible work helping people access abortion across state lines. They also help transgender Kentuckians access gender-affirming care at a time when trans folks are under increasing attack, including by the Kentucky state legislature, and Pedro, as we all know, has been outspoken in his support for the LGBTQ+ community and has a very personal connection to the cause of protecting trans rights. (One other fun connection: Pedro also played Agent Jack “Whiskey” Daniels in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, a movie set partially in Kentucky.)

What if I still have questions?

Please reach out to Cristina or Leslie; our DMs and ask boxes are open!

[peppershark]

WOLFER --- The real California history behind the Tomione Fic

Convict Lake Camp (OwensValleyHistory.com)

When I was a kid, my family frequently visited Bishop, California. I can still feel the light-headed enchantment of hopping out of the van at a relative's green, creek-watered ranch shadowed by towering granite faces of the High Sierras. The dusty road and sage-sharp aroma propelled my imagination two hundred years into the past.

Wolfer is set in 1890 Bishop Creek, and while some of the location names are changed to fit the story, the town really had ranching barons like the Sacred 28 families, churches which exerted certain levels of social power with the well-to-do folk, boarding houses for mill workers and on-farm worker housing for fruit pickers and cowboys--or perhaps the odd wolfer.

It's amazing what you can dig up when you're procrastinating working on your WIP, lol. I did a lot of initial research while writing a Gingerrose fic set in post Civil War Bishop Creek.

Here are some things I found.

Main Street, Bishop Creek 1880 (OwensValleyHistory.com)

In Chapter 1, Tom rides down Main Street to the marshal's office (played by a grudging Severus Snape) and runs into Hermione.

Way off into the upper right you can see the steeple of the First Baptist Church on Main Street.

East Line Street, Bishop Creek (OwensValleyHistory.com)

Tom chases Hermione to Line Street, where he pushes her up against the Brown's Machine Shed, which is of course re-named to fit Lavender Brown's family.

(OwensValleyHistory.com)

Check out that snow! Sitting at 4,000 feet of elevation in the foothills of the East Sierras, the snow can get quite voluminous.

W.D. Roberts Ranch, Round Valley (OwensValleyHistory.com)

The ranch near the dry saltbeds of Owens Lake where Draco visits Harry, (by way of Mad Eye Moody) might have looked like this.

Cerro Gordo photo taken some time between 1871 - 1879 (OwensValleyHistory.com

We get a brief glimpse of the Cerro Gordo silver mine when Draco and Harry ride off into the sunset together for a night of wild debauchery. The brothels and bawdy houses within these sprawling mining towns would have perhaps been some of the only public places for late 19th-century gays to be themselves. Miss Lola's was among the more famous, and I'm struggling to find the website where I originally learned this this but I believe she hosted queer sex workers and provided space for an early LGBTQ+ scene.

The silver mine itself brought together a richly diverse group of fortune seekers. I accessed California census documents and found that while Bishop Creek was mostly white, Cerro Gordo had a much more diverse population (interestingly all marked with 'I', even Latinx names).

I did a phone interview with the Inyo Historical Society and chatted for an hour with a local historian, telling him I was getting context for a novel. (He didn't need to know that my novel was also a fanfic, hahaha.) The historian told me the mine had Mexican, Black, Chinese, and Indigenous populations working as miners, teamsters (people who drive wagons), cooks, brick masons, farm laborers and all kinds of interesting jobs related to running the mine.

Main Street in Bishop Creek, 1878 (OwensValleyHistory.com

One thing that sticks out in my mind from the conversation with the historian is how the white and Mexican ranchers demolished the irrigation canals the Numuu Indigenous tribes had dug to create a green landscape in Owens Valley. Native Americans have been 'farming' America's landscape for thousands of years in a low-impact way. In Chapter 4, Tom muses on this detail as he's setting a wolf trap on Rosier's ranch.

Perhaps the most illuminating account of the region comes from Sarah Winnemucca, daughter of Chief Truckee (after whom the town is named). Sarah travelled as an advocate for Indigenous rights and cataloged her experience and the story of white settler colonization in her book, Life Among the Pauites: Their Wrongs and Claims which you can read for free here.

Thank you for diving into California history with me!

Read Wolfer here.

[clairedaring]

"Thai BL The Finest" Screening: I Feel You Linger In The Air & Scent of Memory

Hosted By Panoramist Spotlight

Date: 9:30-14:00 (Berlin), Saturday, 02/24/2024

Location: Colosseum (Schönhauser Allee 123, Berlin, 10437)

Public tickets (15€) available at https://shorturl.at/mDKMS

Details

Highly-acclaimed and award-winning in Thailand and abroad, "I Feel You Linger in the Air" is a Thai historical BL series with a fantasy twist, adapted from a popular Thai novel of the same title that has been translated into several foreign languages including English, German and Italian. It was co-produced by YYDS Entertainment and Dee Hup House and released in 2023.

The boys-love, or BL, series are those that depict a romantic relationship between two male protagonists. Originated from Japan, it is also acknowledged as a fascinating aspect of Thailand’s popular culture, showing the country's increasing openness towards people with different ways of life. In the past years, it has been continuously gaining popularity around the world.

"I Feel You Linger in the Air" tells a story about Jom, an architect in Chiang Mai overseeing the renovation of a rundown villa, continuously dreaming of a man he's never met. After his boyfriend broke up him for a woman, Jom is devastated, driving into a river. After regaining consciousness, he finds himself stuck in the time of 1927. In this unfamiliar world, he finally encounters the mysterious man from his dreams - Mr. Yai, and starts a bitter sweet love affair that defies social status, gender expectation, time and space.

"From the fantasy premise to the historical setting, I Feel You Linger in the Air is one of the most extraordinary BL dramas. Each fascinating storyline explores the past era and examines cultural nuances insightfully. It tackles many complex themes, including class differences, womanhood, and LGBTQ+ experiences. Thanks to the couple's enchanting chemistry, I'm spellbound by their majestic romance. Everything about this series evokes epicness." — blwatcher.com review

Therefore, we delightedly invite YYDS Entertainment to bring this masterpiece to Berlin for a public screening during the Berlinale, along with its special episode "Scent of Memory" that has not yet officially released globally. Beside screening, we will also have YYDS CEO Ms. Wan Thabkrajang to share some behind-the-scene stories and introduce the company and Thai BL production industry. She will also present a spoiler video of YYDS' upcoming BL series "My Stand-in".

We also prepare a souvenir gift that we hope can help keep this series lingering longer in your memory. The number is limited and will be given out on the first come first serve basis.

Planned agenda

9:30-12:00 I Feel You Linger in the Air (movie version)

12:15-13:45 Scent of Memory

13:45-14:10 Dialogue with YYDS Entertainment

I Feel You Linger in the Air Official Teaser Scent of Memory Official Trailer

Invite your friends to enjoy one of the finest Thai BL series together. Let this love linger in the air of Berlin ~

[kindheart525]

Dottieverse Fun Facts

Just a list of random fun facts about the Dottieverse cast! I've done separate posts on some of these tidbits but I wanted to put all the info in one place and add some bits that might not warrant posts on their own

I’ll keep editing this post as I come up with more fun facts! This isn’t complete by any means so keep checking back for more. Please feel free to suggest some too and maybe they’ll be added to the list!

Dottie Dompler

Her favorite drink is boba tea

Writes film reviews on Letterboxd in her free time

Doesn’t remember what she studied in college as she spent most of her time there picking up dudes

Keeps two diaries: One for general thoughts and feelings and another exclusively for documenting her love life in detail

Has an OnlyFans

Actually has some ex-girlfriends (one or two from experimenting in college and a few trans lady exes who presented as male when she dated them)

Kip Pimling

Is left-handed

Loves Chappell Roan and other similar artists

Used to do musical theater in middle school and still loves to do karaoke

Started seeing a therapist as an angsty preteen and still goes regularly for mental health upkeep

She and Dottie dressed up for the Barbie movie 30th anniversary theater re-release (in 2053)

Got her B.A. in psychology fully online so she could stay in her hometown and intern for Smiling Friends

Whenever someone is bigoted or just plain mean in her presence she donates to corresponding charities in their name (ex: meeting a queerphobe and donating to an LGBTQ organization for them)

Ell Pimling

Fucking horrible at driving; always goes way over the speed limit

When she wants to talk to a tall person she just climbs them

Her taste in women overlaps with Giorno's so they often bond by gushing over attractive female athletes together

Nee Pimling

Has a small, persistent bruise on his bicep where he pinches himself every time his conscience “acts up”

Dur Pimling

Secretly skilled in graphic design; all of the advertisements for his and Nee’s laundromat were made by him

Blep Simpson

Multilingual in Wingon, Latin, American Sign Language, Hebrew, and English (which she never speaks but can understand)

Gola Simpson

Talks with Allan’s inflection and pronunciation style

Wore a wig as a teenager out of insecurity

Giorno Simpson

His social media is mostly full of videos of him doing various workouts but he also has a "making fun of short people" series which has featured Suzy, Eep, Chad, and Ell

Secretly very good at singing but doesn’t let anyone hear it

Glorp Simpson

Suzy Simpson

Owns a vast collection of hats to wear for every occasion

Is a horse girl; she owns a little pony named Rapunzel with a long mane that matches hers

Really wants to do coordinated Halloween costumes with Eep, but since Eep will never go out with her she does it with her niece Royal instead

Eep Simpson

Chad Simpson

Enjoys collecting fancy watches, and also has some silly kid ones from his sisters

Likes horses like Suzy does, but he doesn't like dirt so he bonds with her over sharing facts and watching races rather than riding them

Crawdad Crustacean

Has a southern accent that comes and goes

Pim “Beef” Pimling-Simpson II

When strangers in public ask him why he doesn’t have legs, he makes up different horrible stories about how he lost them to make them regret asking

[mariacallous]

leftists and guns is kinda the ultimate "you are not immune to propaganda" like if you have a normal rational relationship with fire arms you realize A) accidents do happen, people hurt themselves with their own guns ALL the time, B) just the whole suicide issue and you have a minor in the home...

but guns are magical and having them makes you the perfect gun owner who is also magically Dirty Harry crossed with Annie Oakley, like that ain't real mama, life is not a video game that shot gun does not make you the Space Marine from Doom.

My dad was a cop and had been in the Marines, and a lot of the men in my family have either served in the military and/or were some kind of first responder, and they were cops during the 70s and 80s and 90s in the San Francisco Bay Area around Oakland and Richmond.

It made my dad more liberal/leftist and more in favor of both restrictions/regulations on cops and gun control because of the shit he saw and dealt with, and he was incredibly clear with us the seriousness and danger of guns. He kept his gun in a safe/lockbox either in his closet or in a drawer.

All that means, really, is that if he wanted to, he would have been the only one to find and use it.

Fortunately, he disliked it, and he left the police for a variety of reasons but one of the things he told me was that he wanted a job where he wouldn't have to carry or think about guns all day. (Granted, because this is America, the latter isn't really possible but).

I remember Columbine, and Aurora, and the shootings since. And when I moved to the midwest (and specifically Western Minnesota/Eastern North Dakota initially) and even now in NYC, I try to be careful and aware when I'm out and about, and I'm also aware of the possibility of being followed and attacked or worse (ever since the day I had someone drive by and call me a faggot and then follow me back to my apartment in Fargo - fortunately my last day there - it's never left my mind, and even moreso now).

People talk about other countries and how sane they are with guns, but apart from political and other elements, we have literally always had a gun and violence culture in this country, deeply tied to the racism and sexism and classism that is such a huge element of our history and society. Otherwise we wouldn't be constantly adapting around all these mass shootings - at least, what 608 this year so far? - and constantly having the right-wing judges knock down any efforts to restrict them or increase public safety.

And the right *wants* people to think that more guns are necessary, or that guns are the only way to protect yourself. They *want* more women, more people of color, more lgbtq people, carrying weapons and being armed. Because then they can *further* justify and empower violence against those groups. Because then it really *is* an existential or power issue. They *want* armed minority groups because that plays into every single one of their fantasies and fears, and then they can be the noble defender of traditional values and lifestyles.

[nytehavyn-circle]

About Terran Nytefyer

FC: Drawn (this muse will never have a live FC) Sexuality: Pansexual (picky) Occupation: Humanitarian, philanthropist, (is also somewhat of a celebrity)

Terran Nytefyer is a Living Vampire, who is well over 1,500 years old.

No one really knows when or how he was sired, but he’s one of the oldest Living Vampires.

The town of Rhys, along with NyteHavyn castle, are both places he’s spent most of his long life building over a congruence and convergence of ley lines.  (Info about Ryhs and NyteHavyn castle are available in the links.)

He stands at 6'1", and can usually be seen sporting a vandyke (goatee/mustache); a white suit, a cane (which is normally used for fashion), and a white fedora.  He has deep, almost bright, icy-blue eyes.  He speaks with a refined, high upper-class British accent.

He’s highly intelligent (and has no qualms with saying so), has a bit of an ego (remember, he’s spent centuries developing a huge network of contacts, and highly sophisticated resources - in fact, he’s spent centuries building up one of the largest, most comprehensive and interconnected spy and information intelligence networks in the world - with one of the most sophisticated AIs ever created [which has gifted to him by a certain genius billionaire playboy philanthropist]. But because of his intelligence network, he can find out almost anything - he even knows the identity of many of the world’s superheroes. He has top-notch security, materials, etc.  The list goes on. (There’s a reason he seems to know almost anything that goes on in the world.)

And although he may seem like one of those high-brow, stuffy people, the man knows how to have fun and tries to have everyone’s best interests at heart.

He does have a superiority complex, of sorts.  But that doesn’t make him a bad person. He can, however, be quite cruel in action and word. Sometimes, if only to prove a point. But with his partners, he's almost a kitten.

In fact, Terran’s fairly fragile with a lot of things, but he doesn’t always quite let it show.

Terran Nytefyer has never hidden the fact that he’s a Living Vampire from the general public. Across the country, and internationally, what have you. He’s stated it several times (but only ever hinting at his age - this keeps the illusion that, during a 'normal’ mortal’s aging process, he just takes really good care of himself and has had a lot of plastic surgery; and keeps the illusion that every few decades, he has a new birth certificate and ID and such drawn up, and that his descendants just looks identical to each other), and he’s never been believed. The general public - even the press - believes it’s just some sort of persona he made up to explain his 'eccentricities.’

People believe he uses this 'persona’ to explain how he’s so rich (no one knows his true net worth. No one). Why he throws so many blood drives (yes he donates a lot of blood to the Red Cross and hospitals, but he also takes a 'percentage’ for use for vampires in NyteHavyn that have a difficult time finding a donor, and for those that are compelled to kill when feeding but do not want to kill while doing so).

People, in general, believe that his elongated canines - his vampire teeth - are either very expensive, Hollywood-quality veneers, or that he’s went as far as to get implants.

Most importantly, no one knows about NyteHayvn Castle and Rhys. All people know is that Terran runs a sanctuary for 'outcasts.’ He prefers it that way, of course, in order to keep the town and the castle protected within the dimensional bubble. The only ones who HAVE heard of NyteHavyn and Rhys, are those of the supernatural world, or who are very closely connected to the supernatural world.

To say that Terran Nytefyer is a bit of a celebrity is an understatement. With all the fundraisers he throws, housing he’s built for the homeless, being a vocal advocate of LGBTQ+ issues (being bi/pan himself - he’s been photographed with men and women, of course), women’s equality issues, domestic violence issues (for both sexes/all genders, because he’s been a victim of domestic violence), sexual assault issues, et al.

However, there is a select few, a handful, of people who completely believe Terran being a Living Vampire is not just a story, but the absolute truth. Some of these people just want to have their beliefs confirmed. Nothing else. However, some people in this small handful want to expose Terran for what he is.

So, to say Terran is a little paranoid, despite his calm and cool demeanor, is an understatement.

Terran is polyamorous.

(Terran is fandomless and thereby can fit across pretty much any fandom.)

[theforesteldritch]

Posts on Tumblr dot com that make you go wtf. Yes there are transphobic intersex people, yes there are intersex terfs but to fucking act like there’s no systemic intersexism in trans places just is bullshit. You do understand that there are other forms of hatred other than trying to drive us out of public life (and trying to do that to us isn’t just unique to cis people, but trans intersexists don’t have the same systemic power to drive us out of society as cis intersexists, so we get driven out of lgbtq spaces and fetishized and spoken over and ignored and used when convienient and discarded when it’s not). The equivalent in the other direction this post is talking about is the poster. She’s the equivalent she denies exists. Our experiences are denied, our voices are silenced and the complexities of our relationships with our bodies and genders and identities are mocked and attacked. I’m going to fucking scream and bite

[killldeer]

hey could we please stop reblogging that stupid fucking crab post and giving its OP attention and traffic. The Crab Day concept is already sort of dumb and ineffective for several reasons, which several people in the notes of the original post have already articulated much better than I can (these two replies are great examples). It ignores the root problems that we've been asking for responses on in some cases for multiple years and assumes that just throwing money at the site will make them turn around and fix those problems out of the goodness of their hearts.

I am also, almost more importantly, sick and tired of seeing a blog that regularly espouses and reblogs racist, colonialist, pro-life, and transphobic content, often reblogging commentary from well-known TERFs on this site, be given a massive free platform because of the post. I already can't avoid it because the OP or someone near them has blazed it to kindom come, but seeing tons of people I follow and otherwise completely respect reblog it without even a cursory check of the notes is starting to drive me up the wall a little. Tumblr has a history of censoring LGBTQ users and their content while simultaneously allowing some pretty abominable hate speech, including allowing that speech to be blazed and inevitably harm marginalized and vulnerable groups. stop giving someone who is part of the problem publicity. stop giving them a platform.

[flipout6]

Indiana is trying a “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

As the petition itself puts it, “HB 1608, a bill modeled after Florida’s infamous "Don’t Say Gay" has passed out of committee and is on its way to the full House floor. This bill would censor or even ban discussion or acknowledgement of LGBTQ people in schools. SB 480 would prohibit and criminalize families and doctors for providing life-saving, evidence-based care for trans youth. This bill limits even standard affirming mental healthcare. And is part of a coordinated campaign to drive transgender people, particularly youth, out of public life.” Please sign the petition to try and stop this, or - if you’re non-American like me - try and spread the word! https://action.aclu.org/send-message/in-dont-say-gay

[emwhyarentyouwriting]

And Now The GOP Wants To Disarm Us

In a recent segment titled "Tucker: They care more about pronouns than human life", Carlson implicitly calls for the disarming of trans and queer identities.

"You don't need a RA 15 or whatever they call it—says the head of the democratic party speaking very clearly the party's position on guns: "If we can't control them, you can't have them."

He makes this claim to somehow stir up a concern in his viewers, also saying the following:

"It's the same template, always: scare the crap out of your voters, tell them their lives are at risk, encourage them to get guns, how do you think that ends?

Sounds familiar, Mr. Carlson... Almost like the republican party... You did say in this segment "Just to be clear, we're not against people, American citizens, owning firearms, having firearms, we support it, including trans people, it's fine."? So, why does he have an issue? Let's take a look at the situation:

Carlson was driving, listening to NPR , and he hears this:

"EYDER PERALTA: Mass shootings targeting LGBTQ spaces and a rise in anti-trans rhetoric have inspired some quee people to take up arms. New Hampshire Public Radio's Todd Bookman joined the monthly gathering of a gun group that sees firearms as key to their own self-defense. As and you might imagine, this story does include the sound of gunfire."

BOOKMAN: "On a recent Sunday morning, the parking lot of Pawtuckaway State Partk in Southeastern New Hampshire is filling up with hikers. There's also a different crew packing up warm clothes and weapons."

FIN SMITH: Thank you all for coming to Rainbow Reload.

Tucker stops to mention his disapproval, making the claim these militias are actively out to get anti-trans or non queer people for the sake of it. Saying NPR endorses the gatekeeping of weapons to queer people exclusively and for nobody else, hinting at the disarming of the right wing by democrats, also hinting they might want to harm republicans simply for disagreeing with them.

"Well, you know what's going on here: NPR has decided that guns are bad except when the enforcers of its ideology have guns. You can't have guns, but faithful servants of the democratic party can; that makes sense because all totalitarians, they want a monopoly on force, right? So, debate ends at that point, so the other side has all firearms, you don't have to argue. You say "you can't change your sex" "SHUT UP BIGOT! BANG BANG!" He also utilized NPR's coverage of the death of a transgender woman who goes by Eucy, who, according to her friend, Rachel, "was a peaceful, kind being who liked to garden and make soups from things she grew in her garden. I think out of desperation she barricaded herself in her apartment, as far I know, she had no family in the area." And, he made a big point of NPR leaving out the fact she shot a deputy, but he was unable to mention why she shot the deputy which landed them in the hospital; this entire situation is incredibly unfortunate no matter who is in the wrong, and, we should show attention to the injured deputy as well as Eucy, and, friends and families of the two. This shouldn't have happened, definitely. Though, it would be very logical to find out who fired the first shot.

"And, anyone hearing or reading that dispatch from npr "reporter" from Lily Ana Fowler would feel pretty bad for the person who killed him or her-self. Politics aside, completely. But it turns out NPR didn't tell the whole story. What NPR left out was Eucy had shot a Sheriff's deputy prioe to killing [himself] . In fact, Eucy put that Sheriff's deputy in the hospital where he remains tonight after undergoing emergency surgery. That wasn't of any interest whatsoever to NPR's "social justice" team. They just didn't care. What they want you to know she was part of the trans community, and Eucy died. And so, Eucy's life matters much more than anyone's, including the cop that she shot, certainly more than yours."

Jason Rantz, another member of Fox News and an NPR reporter, after conducting his own research claims:

"There is no genocide of trans people in the U.S. or anywhere in the West.. In fact, there has been an explosion of trans-identifying people, which research suggests is a social contagion spread by social media fads and youth peer pressure. They few dozen trans people tragically killed in the U.S. each year are usually murdered by black men while in the course of prostitution activities."

Rantz does not have a psychological or medical degree, rather, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree of Arts in Politics from LA's Occidental College in 2004. The college became accredited in 2022.

We also know that he has not realeased how he came to this conclusion, or even the data of his research. This can lead one to believe it may be biased or nonexistent. It's just another claim to discredit transgender people so that they have more of a platform to say they cannot own firearms, while also making the hypocritical statement the trans community has the ultimate goals to disarm or cause harm to those they do not necessarily agree with. Obviously, even if trans people do have guns, it's already proof this is not the goal, self-defense is the goals. And, nobody is ever barred from the right to bear arms in at least one way or another. The second amendment is for all people.

SOURCES (video at start of post)

[1stthingsfirst]

Coming back to this post much later because I can't stop thinking about it.

For context: I have been the Mew and the Sand (aka grew up around addiction), have my own mental illnesses (not addiction), and have some training in trauma-informed care. If anyone has any questions about or issues with my wording, please don't hesitate to tell me!

I love seeing the parallels spelled out and I mostly agree, but I do think folks have romanticized Sand to fit a narrative that isn't fully supported by the text.

We know that Ray's mother's death was related to her alcoholism, Ray struggles with alcoholism, and he uses/abuses drugs. We also know that San makes and sells his own alcohol, he works in a bar, his mother runs a gogo bar, and his social life revolves around drinking. That's already not a great set-up.

Sand genuinely likes Ray and he's willing to go through more than Mew. That means a lot! However, I'd presume that much of the difference in their approaches stems from how long they've known Ray, not from Sand being an inherently better, more patient, or more understanding person. It's very easy to say that Mew treats Ray like he's a burden (and at times he does), but we also haven't seen the years of shared history. The years of Ray drinking too much and bringing drugs places he could get himself and his friends in trouble and Mew planning rides for Ray so he doesn't drive drunk.

I don't blame Ray! Well, except for drunk driving. Addiction is, in part:

not a moral or behavioral failing

a mental illness (Substance Use Disorder, per the DSM-5)

often comorbid with depression and PTSD (i'm not a psychologist but i think it's safe to assume Ray has one or both) (comorbidity often results in increased severity of symptoms and lower responsiveness to treatment)

partially hereditary

significantly more common among LGBTQ+ folks

even harder to accept when you're young and think you're just partying like other people your age, and

not your fault.

This doesn't mean that one's behavior and actions resulting from addiction are immune from criticism, but it does provide an explanation for that behavior and allows me to empathize better.

I do blame Mew and co. for regularly going to bars with a friend who they think drinks too much. I intentionally didn't say "who is an alcoholic" here because I'm unsure if they would say that. We just know Mew thinks Ray drinks too much/often, so I'm purposely being broad. However, I also don't blame Mew for being tired of Ray's behavior.

It's easy as an outsider to wonder why they're still friends. Why Mew isn't kinder or why he gets exasperated, especially knowing about Ray's struggles. But Mew has dealt with Ray's behavior for at least two years, and likely their entire friendship if we consider his initial response to Ray's suicidal phone call. It's not empathetic or trauma-informed, but it is human to be tired. It's exhausting to try to help someone who won't change. It can be exhausting just to witness.

There has been a lot of meta on Sand's role as caregiver and I truly believe that he may have a higher tolerance than Mew. That said, I can't help but wonder if Sand would act any differently if he had known Ray as long as Mew has. Compassion fatigue is real, and it's caused by repeated exposure. We're witnessing Mew's compassion fatigue. Sand has had much less exposure.

(Editing while this post is in the queue to clarify that, like how I said that addiction is an explanation but not an excuse for Ray's behavior, compassion fatigue is an explanation for Mew's behavior towards Ray, not an excuse. He should be more empathetic and considerate of Ray's feelings, but I get why he isn't. That's the point I was trying to make.)

Sand's approach to Ray is definitely kinder, less judgmental, and more mature than Mew's and his life experiences do make him better equipped to support Ray, but Sand also stumbles:

Sand does (try to) prevent Ray from driving drunk but I'd argue that's more about public safety than it is about Ray himself.

Even after Ray shares that his mom died due to alcoholism, they spend the night taking shots and eating edibles.

After the car accident, Sand doesn't say, "You need to stop drinking." He says, "You need to stop drinking until you're fully recovered." That is, Ray can drink, just not right away. Could it be Sand's way of trying to address Ray's alcoholism? Yes. Does it address Ray's alcoholism? No.

Folks talk a lot about how Ray needs to change his behavior and seek out help before he can be good for Sand. That's true. But Sand may also need to make changes before he can be good for Ray in the long term. Sand's current life/lifestyle is likely incompatible with Ray's sobriety. If we want them to be together and be good for each other, they both need to change.

something something mew keeps ray as the burden/problem he believes himself to be something something sand is trying to help him heal/protect him (x)

bonus - ray can't leave the past/trauma behind him to be happy because it has such a hold on him but maybe in the future

[mymbios]

Lacey Addington, 35, was born into a family with deep ties to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and old industrial revolution wealth. Her family’s legacy is one of influence, affluence, and a deep-seated commitment to the arts. Her father, Harrison Addington, 64, is an eccentric patron of local theaters and art museums, while her mother, Vivienne Addington, 62, is a functioning alcoholic who maintains a public image as a socialite involved in charity work, even as her personal struggles have shaped much of Lacey’s upbringing. Her younger sister, Amelia Addington, 32, is a free-spirited artist who has often been the more rebellious and unconventional sibling.

Lacey’s childhood was filled with tennis matches and horseback riding lessons, reflecting her family’s status, but it was her love for learning and passion for books that truly defined her early years. A precocious student, she excelled academically and developed a keen interest in history and literature from a young age. Her parents, though eccentric, nurtured her intellectual curiosity, sending her to an all-girls boarding school in her teens, which marked a pivotal period of self-discovery. It was during this time that Lacey began questioning her sexuality, feeling drawn to the complexity of identity and gender.

After graduating from boarding school, Lacey moved across the Atlantic to attend King’s College London, where she initially majored in English. However, as her academic interests deepened, she switched her focus to History and Gender Studies, immersing herself in the intersections of queer history and the oldest profession in the world—sex work. Her fascination with the historical and cultural significance of sex and sexuality led her to write her PhD thesis on the history of pornography and literary eroticism, a groundbreaking piece of work that explored the often-taboo subject with intellectual rigor.

Now living in England, Lacey has established herself as a respected writer and scholar. She has published several books and articles on sex, sexual liberation, and the history of eroticism, pushing boundaries and contributing to ongoing conversations about sexual freedom and gender identity. Lacey is also working on a documentary series that explores sex work around the world, past and present, aiming to shed light on the complexities and realities of the profession in different cultures and historical contexts.

Since coming out as a lesbian after completing her undergraduate degree, Lacey has fully embraced her identity and has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Though her family’s old-world values sometimes clash with her progressive stances, she maintains a strong connection to them, particularly her sister Amelia, who has always been a close confidante.

Lacey is known for her sharp intellect, dry wit, and deep curiosity about the world. She’s a natural researcher, always delving into archives or reading obscure texts in pursuit of new insights. While her work is often academic, her personal life is less serious—she loves spending time outdoors, particularly riding horses, and enjoys traveling to far-flung places, both for her research and for leisure. Despite the weighty topics she studies, Lacey has a love for life’s pleasures, whether it’s exploring new cities, sampling fine cuisine, or diving into the art world that her family has long supported.

Though she has an analytical mind, Lacey’s passion for human connection and understanding the ways people relate to sex, identity, and power are what truly drive her. Always striving for progress and self-reflection, Lacey Addington is both a voice for sexual liberation and a product of a family bound by tradition, walking the line between two worlds with intelligence and grace.

[dankusner]

New policy blocks transgender Texans from changing sex on driver's licenses

Under a new policy, Texans will not be able to change the sex on their current licenses unless it is to fix a clerical error.

Transgender Texans will not be able to change the sex listed on their driver’s licenses, according to a policy change rolled out this week.

Under the new policy, Texans will not be able to change the sex on their licenses unless it is to fix a clerical error.

Sheri Gipson, the chief of the Driver License Division at the Texas Department of Public Safety, confirmed the change when reached by phone on Wednesday.

The change comes as conservative states across the country move to make it more difficult for transgender Texans to update their documents with the sex that matches their gender identity.

Similar steps have recently been taken in Florida, Kansas and Montana.

Civil rights advocates in Florida argue the move violated federal laws meant to keeping license rules consistent across states, according to The 19th*.

Transgender Texans could previously change the sex listed on their driver’s license by bringing an original certified court order or an amended birth certificate verifying the change, according to an archived version of the Department of Public Safety license website.

As of Wednesday, this information was no longer on the website.

A department spokesman did not immediately respond to an email about the change.

Brad Pritchett, interim CEO of the LGBTQ rights group Equality Texas, said this negatively affects the nearly 93,000 transgender adults living here.

"Just like people who change their names after marriage want their correct name on their license, trans Texans want their driver’s license to reflect their gender. We use our IDs to navigate all areas of life, driving, voting, employment. Having an ID that reflects who you are is a basic form of dignity that many take for granted."

The Texas Newsroom has received a copy of an email announcing the Texas policy change.

An agency employee, who wanted to be unnamed because they are not authorized to speak to the media, said the email was sent to staff this week.

This email states:

"Effective immediately, August 20, 2024, the Department will not accept court orders or amended birth certificates issued that change the sex when it differs from documentation already on file.

The validity of such documents is currently under review by Office of the Director to ensure that all state and federal guidelines are being met.

For current DL/ID holders, the sex established at the time of original application and listed in the driver record will not be changed unless there was a clerical error.

The sex will reflect the sex listed on the primary document presented upon original application that is already on file.

This does not mean we will deny the issuance of or renewal of the DL/ID.

The issuance can proceed with documentation on file, and this decision will be left up to the customer.

If a first-time applicant presents conflicting documents, such as a birth certificate with a court order requiring a sex change, the sex listed on the original birth certificate will take precedence to record the sex.

If a single court order contains both a name change and a sex change, we cannot accept the order.

The applicant will be processed with no change and with the information on file.

We will continue to make corrections when a clerical error has been made and the documentation supports the correction."

The email went on to ask division employees to sent copies of documentation requesting these updates to a special email address with the subject line "Sex Change Court Order."

It is unclear what prompted the change now.

In 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sought information from the agency about transgender Texans who requested changes on their licenses.

The request also came from the division director, according to The Washington Post.

“A verbal request was received,” the then-Department of Public Safety spokesman said at the time.

“Ultimately, our team advised the AG’s office the data requested neither exists nor could be accurately produced. Thus, no data of any kind was provided.”

Texas attorney general’s office sought state data on transgender Texans

December 14, 2022

HOUSTON — Employees at the Texas Department of Public Safety in June received a sweeping request from Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office:

Compile a list of individuals who had changed their gender on their Texas driver’s license and other department records during the past two years.

“Need total number of changes from male to female and female to male for the last 24 months, broken down by month,” the chief of the DPS’s driver license division emailed colleagues in the department on June 30, according to a copy of a message obtained by The Washington Post through a public records request.

“We won’t need DL/ID numbers at first but may need to have them later if we are required to manually look up documents.”

After more than 16,000 such instances were identified, DPS officials determined that a manual search would be needed to determine the reason for the changes, DPS spokesman Travis Considine told The Post in response to questions.

“A verbal request was received,” he wrote in an email.

“Ultimately, our team advised the AG’s office the data requested neither exists nor could be accurately produced. Thus, no data of any kind was provided.”

Asked who in Paxton’s office had requested the records, he replied: “I cannot say.” Th

e behind-the-scenes effort by Paxton’s office to obtain data on how many Texans had changed their gender on their license came as the attorney general, Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders in the state have been publicly marshaling resources against transgender Texans.

In October 2021, Abbott signed a bill banning transgender youths from participating in sports that align with their gender identity at K-12 public schools;

this year he ordered the state to investigate the provision of gender-affirming care as potential child abuse.

State lawmakers have already proposed more than a dozen anti-LGBTQ measures ahead of the next session in January, including criminalizing gender-affirming care and banning minors at drag shows.

Public records obtained by The Post do not indicate why the attorney general’s office sought the driver’s license information.

But advocates for transgender Texans say Paxton could use the data to further restrict their right to transition, calling it a chilling effort to secretly harness personal information to persecute already vulnerable people.

“This is another brick building toward targeting these individuals,” said Ian Pittman, an Austin attorney who represents Texas parents of transgender children investigated by the state.

“They’ve already targeted children and parents. The next step would be targeting adults. And what better way than seeing what adults had had their sex changed on their driver’s licenses?”

Alexis Salkeld Garcia, 34, of Austin, a trans woman who changed the gender listed on her driver’s license from male to female a year and a half ago, said the attorney general’s office inquiry made her feel “terrified.”

“It’s very specifically targeted, and the one person I don’t want knowing about my gender status is Ken Paxton,” said Salkeld Garcia, a software engineer who worries state officials might try to switch the gender listed on her driver’s license back to male.

“I don’t want a cop pulling me over and knowing I’m trans. That is why I changed my gender marker extremely quickly” after transitioning, she said.

Paxton’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

The records obtained by The Post, which document communications between DPS employees, are entitled:

“AG Request Sex Change Data” and “AG data request.”

They indicate that Paxton’s office sought the records a month after the state Supreme Court ruled that Paxton and Abbott had overreached in their efforts to investigate families with transgender children for child abuse.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seen last year in Dallas, in June sought a list of individuals who had changed their gender on their Texas driver’s license and other department records during the past two years.

Paxton’s office bypassed the normal channels — DPS’s government relations and general counsel’s offices — and went straight to the driver license division staff in making the request, according to a state employee familiar with it, who said the staff was told that Paxton’s office wanted “numbers” and later would want “a list” of names, as well as “the number of people who had had a legal sex change.”

Story continues below advertisement During the following two months, the employee said, the DPS staff searched its records for changes in the “sex” category of not only driver’s licenses but also state ID cards available from birth, learner’s permits issued to those age 15 and up, commercial licenses, state election certificates, and occupational licenses.

The employee spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation for describing internal state discussions.

DPS staff members compiled a list of 16,466 gender changes between June 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, public records show.

In the emails, DPS staff members repeatedly referred to the request as coming from the attorney general’s office as they discussed attempting to narrow the data to include only licenses that had been altered to reflect a court-ordered change in someone’s gender.

Demonstrators gather at the Texas Capitol in Austin on May 20, 2021, to protest legislation targeting transgender people being considered by the state legislature.

DPS staff members did spot checks on the data, examining records that included names of specific individuals, according to records and the state employee familiar with the inquiry.

But it was hard to weed out driver’s licenses that had been changed in error, or multiple times, or for reasons other than gender changes.

“It will be very difficult to determine which records had a valid update without a manual review of all supporting documents,” an assistant manager in DPS’s driver license division wrote in an email to colleagues on July 22.

On Aug. 4, the division chief emailed staff members, “We have expended enough effort on this attempt to provide data. After this run, have them package the data that they have with the high level explanations and close it out.”

On Aug. 18, a senior manager emailed to say a data engineer had “provided the data request by the AG’s office (attached).”

Last month, The Post made a request to Paxton’s office for all records the attorney general’s office had directed other state offices to compile related to driver’s licenses in which the sex of the driver was changed, as well as related emails between Paxton’s office and other state agencies.

Officials indicated that no such records existed.

“Why would the Office of the Attorney General have gathered this information?” Assistant Attorney General June Harden wrote in an email to The Post, later adding, “Why do you believe this is the case?”

If they did, Harden said, any records were probably exempt from release because of either attorney-client privilege or confidentiality.

Marisol Bernal-Leon, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, later emailed that the office “has reviewed its files and has no information responsive to your request” for either records it had requested from DPS or emails between the attorney general’s office and DPS.

Separately, DPS provided The Post with a half-dozen documents spanning three months that referenced the request by Paxton’s office.

When The Post shared copies of the records that had been provided by DPS, Assistant Attorney General Lauren Downey noted that “none of the records provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety are communications with the Office of the Attorney General. Our response to your request was accurate.”

Downey did not reply to questions about why the DPS emails refer to the request as originating from the attorney general.

Paxton’s office has yet to respond to another public records request for any records of its contact with DPS concerning driver’s license changes via means other than email, including phone calls, video meetings and in-person exchanges.

The earlier attempt by Paxton and his allies to direct state agencies to identify parents of transgender youths and investigate them for child abuse has mostly been blocked by the courts.

Last year, lawmakers in the Republican-dominated legislature failed to pass a measure that would have criminalized gender confirmation care, which major medical associations have deemed science-based medical care.

Afterward, state Rep. Matt Krause (R) — chair of the state House committee on general investigating — contacted Paxton, who issued a legal opinion that gender-affirming care for minors could be considered child abuse.

Days later, Abbott directed the state child welfare agency to investigate parents facilitating such care for their children, sparking several investigations within days, according to public records.

After Abbott issued the directive, agency staff members were told not to communicate in writing about it, including emails and texts, according to public records.

Some of the families sued, winning a temporary statewide injunction in Doe v. Abbott, blocking the investigations until the lawsuit reached the state Supreme Court in May.

The court overturned the injunction on procedural grounds but found that Paxton’s legal opinion was not binding and that Abbott did not have the authority to direct state child welfare staff members to initiate child abuse investigations of families with transgender children.

“[N]either the Governor nor the Attorney General has statutory authority to directly control DFPS’s investigatory decisions,” the court ruled.

But Pittman, the attorney who has represented Texas parents of transgender children, noted that lawyers for the attorney general’s office later argued against what the Supreme Court had determined: that Republican leaders “had political tools but they could not direct the department in that way.”

He said they appeared to be “ignoring direct Supreme Court statements.”

The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal also sued to stop the investigations on behalf of PFLAG, an LGBTQ advocacy group with more than 600 members in Texas.

A county judge in Austin ruled in their favor in September, blocking the state from investigating PFLAG members.

That covered most of the dozen families the state admitted to investigating but not necessarily all, said Shelly Skeen, a Dallas-based senior attorney at Lambda Legal working on the PFLAG and Doe v. Abbott cases.

Skeen called the attorney general’s inquiry into driver’s license records “a gross violation of privacy” intended to “target one group of people to fire up their base while transgender people are just trying to live their lives.”

“The constitutional issues that this raises are equal protection and due process under the 14th Amendment as well as discrimination based on sex,” Skeen said.

Some Texas judges seal or restrict access to court records of gender changes for privacy reasons, but also because transgender individuals have been harassed online and faced threats of violence, Skeen said. Smith Puerto and their wife, Kristina, pose for a photo at their home in Austin on Monday.

“If you do not have access to identity documents that match who you are, you are outed every time you show an ID,” Skeen said, “and this is what leads to the discrimination, harassment and violence that transgender people face.”

Smith Puerto of Austin, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary, changed their Texas driver’s license from female to male about a year ago. Puerto, 34, who works in client services at a tech company, has been training with their wife of five years to foster an LGBTQ teen and figured they had a better chance applying as a male, although there were risks. “You definitely out yourself,” by changing the documents, said Puerto, who has had surgery, takes hormones and said they often pass as male.

“In a state like Texas, you don’t always want people to know you’re different,” Puerto said, calling the attorney general’s inquiry “horrifying.”

“It’s scary to know what he would want to do with that data,” they said. Puerto, who moved to Texas from Ohio nine years ago, said they worry Paxton and other Republican leaders who have attacked the rights of transgender children are preparing to target transgender adults like them when the legislature reconvenes.

“It’s a constant conversation between my wife and I,” Puerto said. “Every session we hold our breath, kind of watching what horrendous bills get filed, and wonder how much longer can we stay here.” Salkeld Garcia, who also takes hormones and had gender confirmation surgery,demonstrated against anti-trans legislation at the Capitol last year and called the prospect of what lawmakers could do next year “very nerve-racking.”

“In Austin we have a vibrant trans community, a beautiful queer community,” she said. “But it’s also scary, because it feels like you have a big fire burning all around you and you don’t know where it will spread or if it will burn you.”

CORRECTION

A previous version of this article misstated the year that Gov. Greg Abbott signed a measure limiting the sports teams on which transgender youths could play.

It occurred in October 

Oh, good morning. Can you hear me? Oh cool. Uh, is this dps? This is well, this is dps customer service Oh, uh, the menu was Complicated so I didn't reach dps.

I reached something else just called customer service No, this is dps customer service. Okay, cool. So I reached dps, right? Yes, you did not reach us Oh dear, okay.

Okay. Let me get your extent. Okay.

So your name's barbara, right? Yes. Okay. So barbara i'm still i'm just sort of confused.

Um You you work for dps, correct I work. Yes. I work for dps But i'm in a call center So if you've called the driver, so, um, do you have the ability to provide any information barbara Yes, I do.

Okay. So if I had some questions you'd be able to field them. Is that within the scope of your duties? Okay, so, um, I have some questions for you.

Is that okay? Okay. Yeah, let me get a callback number in case we get disconnected. I'll email that to you.

What's your email address barbara? I don't have an email address dps didn't give you my email Dps didn't give you a dps.texas.gov email address barbara I do have one. Okay, can I get that from you? Why do you need that can I get it from you or are you going to refuse barbara? It's barbara b-a-r-b-a R-a-dot-g-o-n-z-a-l-e-s Yes, are you at a particular, um location anywhere in the state of texas barbara? I'm in austin. Okay, great I have some questions about forms.

Um, do you have the ability to uh answer any? Yes, what kind of forms are you looking for? Are you um familiar with the procedure for name change documents? Yes, I am. Thank you. Are there any forms that initiate that change? You have to come into the driver's license office to do a name change Okay, but do any forms initiate the change? No, any name.

Okay, cool. And then but there's no documents. There's going to be a driver's license office visit Okay Thank you, but no form so there isn't one form whatsoever designed that enables the change No, you have to provide the the document divorce to court ordered name change.

Okay. Thank you. So is if you have a previous um assigned number for for a driver license Is the number replaced or is it does the number remain the same? The driver's license number well, what other numbers would there be? Um, you could have an id Okay, cool.

Well, I appreciate the question barbara But when I asked it, I actually asked about a driver's license number. Are they? Are you given a new are you assigned a different number with a name change? No, you keep the same number Okay Is that stipulated anywhere Have you looked on the dps website, um, I have but I also i'm asking you is that stipulated anywhere barbara No, I don't they don't do a name change are there any forms that initiate that process No, you have to go into the driver. Okay.

Uh, all right. So, uh, the other question I had was if you wanted to um, engage in this process While I was listening to you know, I waited quite a while to uh, have the pleasure of speaking with you barbara But the recording actually mentioned Um, you can go into any driver's license, uh center are they centers is that what they call them? Oh driver's license office. Yes.

It's an office not a center. Okay. Thank you.

Um, but Is there just one that's kind of totally differently managed than the rest of them in texas? What do you mean managed Um, probably along the time management I mean all of the drivers and so it's not like there's one that's individually the time management is Known to dps that it's handled in a different way No, they're all I mean now I appreciate that. Can I uh, just give you back something that um, is there something different about the way? People establish service at the carolton office in texas So that office is not doing it all I know is they don't do walk-in appointments Well, that was I mean you have to realize that there's like over 200 drivers So I appreciate it. So again back to my first question.

It appears the carolton office the time management is Individually unique there's something There's something odd about that one or something just uh unique about that one, right? I I don't know what you mean by unique. What do you what are you referring to? Okay, so i'll answer your question the word unique is a descriptive adjective and what it means is that it cannot be modified so There is not something that is somewhat unique that is actually incorrect or kind of unique It's either unique or it's not And it i'm the question I have for you Is the carolton office unique that it's the only one that manages time? And I think you said there were 200 something offices for driver licenses is the carolton one the individual Loan different one than all the rest No, I mean there's which one I don't know why that's um I mean I you did you ask them when you went through why they weren't doing? Uh walk-ins I didn't but can I so i'm paying attention to you and I appreciate it. So when you said them What in your question? What did you mean by the word? Asking them who I didn't go in anywhere that driver's license office I mean, we were just told that they don't do walk-in appointments.

I mean it could have been staffing issues I'm, not sure sir. So I mean I can't I can't tell you why they're I mean, they just said they're they're not Um, I appreciate that. So I just to clarify the carolton one.

There's no other um You don't know of any other office that has that guideline that I think you said you cannot go in For a walk-in. Is that true carolton is the one and only that doesn't do that in the state of texas Let me see I'm looking at the website to see if there's any any more location. I'm looking at the website.

I don't see it so Okay, I I would have to go on to the dps website and you would have to Look to see what they say So Thank you But so part of what i'm kind of asking you and one of the things that maybe you don't know because it is a unique question is that You kind of know carolton doesn't but you're not sure if any others also have that same guideline Some others may just at the tip of your fingers while we're talking it's just not like um You you can't say yeah, I know another one But the only one that you know of right now is carolton that it doesn't accept walk-ins, right? Let me see give me a moment. Okay Well, there's one in austin That's another one. Okay So that's what they say cool.

So I first of all I want to thank you for um Helping me with my questions. And so the You could because you're actually uh, i'm going to tell you you're doing a really good job with public service and I know it probably It wasn't the smoothest start, but i'm feeling good about this So the reason why i'm kind of calling today is that I called last week Because I was interested in initiating the name change On the license and I kind of called to ask about the process and One of your colleagues answered the phone and first, um mentioned that And maybe they were confused but mentioned that name change could only be done at the carolton office and I went Oh, that's really not The closest no, that is not true. Okay, I appreciate all drivers license offices offer that service cool and while I was waiting to speak to you, I kind of heard something in the name change menu that services aren't restricted and then Then I was listening more and then someone mentioned or then the recording mentioned something about carolton I go.

Well, what's that about? But the part about this is that i'm actually Wanting to know about The process and the length of time it takes to handle the steps in it And so one thing that I didn't know exactly was if I have to drive all the way out to carolton, which is gonna be I don't even want to get on the road. It's too dangerous Um to drive that far i'm kind of interested in the concept of safety with the texas department of public safety and um So that part, you know, especially with gas prices it was like I don't understand why I was being Directed there and the other part was I didn't know if I brought in the supposed correct You know documents if i'm walking out with the change and I also wasn't aware of Costs or anything and kind of I was like going well I think what I want to know is what is the form that initiates this process? And if I drive all the way out to carolton to realize You know Am I walking out with one? Doing a renewal two years You can certainly renew they'll give you your two. Okay, so Thank you in that First I have two questions about that.

Is that 33 plus 11? No, it's 33 dollars total Thank you. And then number two um Is that process stipulated on any of the forms? What form the forms that the driver's license office uses is Uses to come to create and complete these actions on behalf of public service So, um the um It's just going to be a regular standard application date a standard application that you're going to be filling out And do you know which form number that is that you're just referenced? Yeah, it's called a d l d l dash 14 a So that's okay, so that's the form number I was kind of asking so that is very helpful It's a d l dash 14 a which was uh recently revised in june of 2020 um the part that okay, so That is a renewal So, uh, so d l 14 a actually It's a renewal and or replacement form. Okay, so you want me to tell you something else? barbara Yes D l 14 a the second line is select one original renewal replacement or address or name change So the d l 14 a is the form that does the name change? Yes Yes, that does the name change? Yeah, okay Okay, is there anything else I can help you with today I guess one question at this point i'm just A little confused, but I think we both Reached a point of clarity in the information you provided.

Is that not true barbara? Yes Okay, so just to be clear When I began I asked you which form initiates this change And I don't think the answer that I got was you're looking for the d l 14 a i'm just want to be sort of Sort of clear that's not how this phone call began almost 20 minutes ago, did it? No, that's not how it began because I thought you were saying that there was a specific well So this is a specific form for a name change. This is very specified. You have a lot of forms but d l 14 a Absolutely specifies it and that's what this form does it has a few other functions i'm sure But this is the function of the form And it's specified Yes, so I think we both reached a moment of clarity during this phone call, correct Yes, all right, I appreciate your help.

Thanks

Court Order Notice to Employees

Effective immediately, August 20, 2024, the Department will not accept court order or amended birth certificates issued that change the sex when it differs from documentation already on file.

The validity of such documents is currently under review by Office of the Director to ensure that all state and federal guidelines are being met.

For current DL/ID holders, the sex established at the time of original application and listed in the driver record will not be changed unless there was a clerical error.

The sex will reflect the sex listed on the primary document presented upon original application that is already on file.

This does not mean we will deny the issuance of or renewal of the DL/ID.

The issuance can proceed with documentation on file, and this decision will be left up to the customer.

If a first-time applicant presents conflicting documents, such as a birth certificate with a court order requiring a sex change, the sex listed on the original birth certificate will take precedence to record the sex.

If a single court order contains both a name change and a sex change, we cannot accept the order.

The applicant will be processed with no change and with the information on file.

We will continue to make corrections when a clerical error has been made and the documentation supports the correction.

All court order sex change documentation that cannot be processed should be scanned into the record and the customer’s name and DL/ID number be emailed to DLCourtOrders@dps.texas.gov

Please notate on the email in the subject line ''Sex Change Court Order."

Changes resulting from clerical errors do not need to be reported.

This email address is for internal reporting only and should not be shared with customers.

Customers should continue to report issues using the customer service or inspector general emails as they do currently.

We apologize for the short notice, and we will work as quickly as possible to get resolution.

Thank you all for making a quick pivot to ensure this new process is followed.

Customer escalations will be handled through chain-of-command.

Sheri Gipson, Chief

Driver License Division

Texas Department of Public Safety

(o)512-424-5415 (c)512-413-4292

[bllsbailey]

Gavin Newsom Delivers Dark State of the State Speech, Obsesses Over Gender Politics, Abortion

California Gov. Gavin Newsom couldn’t be bothered to show up at the state Capitol in Sacramento Tuesday to deliver his State of the State address; instead, for the fourth year in a row, he aired a pre-recorded message. Appearing somber, his speech was anything but uplifting, and like Joe Biden, he painted his political opponents as dangerous zealots who hate progress. He tried to depict the Golden State as some sort of utopia despite the crime epidemic, the explosion in the number of homeless people, and the unaffordability of the state.

He obsessed over abortion, as that is one of the few issues that Democrats believe they can win on. However, since he will be termed out in 2027, his heart didn’t really seem to be in it and he lacked energy.

Ignore all California’s very real problems, Newsom seemed to say, and instead let's focus on the evils of the conservatives:

Repeating familiar tropes of past political speeches, Newsom cast the state as a force of light against dark conservative forces and boasted about California’s work to protect civil rights and the rights of women and LGBTQ+ communities. “Our values and our way of life are the antidote to the poisonous populism of the right, and to the fear and anxiety that so many people are feeling today,” Newsom said. “People across the globe look to California and see what’s possible, and how to live and advance together and prosper together across every conceivable difference.”

He returned to his familiar rhetoric regarding abortion, in effect saying that it was California’s number one issue:

The governor used the speech to attack conservatives nationally over reproductive rights, an issue Democrats have tried to capitalize on in the 2024 election. He described them as “telling a woman she’s not in charge of her own body.” “When it comes to reproductive rights, their lies are designed to control,” Newsom said. “Their draconian policies are driving women to flee across state lines, as fugitives from laws written by men more than a hundred years ago. Some even go so far as to force victims of assault to give birth to their rapist’s babies.”

Related:

Another One Bites the Dust: Adam Carolla Blasts Newsom As 'Slippery Eel of Nothingness' As He Exits CA

RECEIPTS PROVIDED: Violent Crime Skyrockets in CA But Newsom's Attempting to Block Tough-on-Crime Reforms

Newsom Crows About Rise in CA Retail Theft Arrests—Gets Roasted for Creating Lawlessness in First Place

Where Newsom really went off the rails, though, was when he tried to make differences of opinion into some sort of “Star Wars” scenario where the armies of the Good must use The Force against the battalions of the Darkness:

“We are presented with a choice between a society that embraces our values and a world darkened by division and discrimination,” Newsom said. “The economic prosperity, health, safety and freedom that we enjoy are under assault. Forces are threatening the very foundation of California’s success — our pluralism, our innovative spirit, and our diversity.”

That last line was possibly his most laughable, “The economic prosperity, health, safety, and freedom that we enjoy are under assault.” What economic prosperity, health, safety, and freedom are you talking about, Governor? The state is an absolute disaster, and people are leaving in droves. The assault you describe is the one that you and your one-party rule have sicced upon us.

Newsom seems to have pretty much lost interest in the job and clearly is angling for a position on the national level—perhaps in Biden’s Cabinet, or maybe even as a presidential candidate in ’24 (depending on whether Biden lasts) or ’28. In the meantime, he’s headed to Atlanta to be at the presidential debate Thursday night. He’s expected to do interviews before and after the event, during which he can be counted on to further attempt to gaslight the public about what’s going on in California and continue to describe anyone who doesn’t agree with his extremism as a “threat to democracy.” 

But the reality is, Gov. Newsom: the state of the state is very, very bad.

[elfwreck]

The thing is:

There are people who hate us all. Who want us dead or exiled or in prison. Who protest every shred of queerness they see in public. Who have been working hard to pass laws like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" and trying to remove protections from LGBTQ folks from state laws and prevent them from being added to national ones.

They are numerous, powerful, and violent. They protest every shred of LGBTQ protection in the law; they scream about every recognition or acceptance of queer people in any public venue, and sometimes private ones.

And yet.

This is important.

And yet.

Target thinks our dollars are more valuable than their protests.

Thinks they will sell more rainbow hats and flags and socks to us, than they will lose money to the bigots. And not only - "will sell more than they lose," because that's a base financial consideration, but "selling these things will NOT lose us money in the long run; we won't be shut out of new real estate purchases; employees won't walk off in notable numbers; cities will not refuse to license us for expansions; other companies won't refuse to contract with us for repair work" and so on.

They not only compare "Dollars spent by queer folks and their allies" to "dollars withheld by bigots." They compare "community standing and business opportunities gained from openly standing with the queer folks, vs those lost by denying the wishes of the bigots."

Target knows who "the public" is.

"The public" is not defined as "queer folks & allies or anti-gay bigot activists." Most of the public does not know, and does not care, what either of those groups do.

That has always been true.

What's new: The public is not uncomfortable with rainbow-flag merch. Is not unhappy to see openly queer marketing from companies they know and trust. Oh, they might grumble about "damn pandering to special-interest woke groups wtf is this?" BUT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY CARE.

This, THIS is what we have been fighting for.

Not acceptance and love and welcome, but indifference.

Because why the hell should Jane Q Housewife give a damn if someone who lives 10 miles away from her has a girlfriend or boyfriend? They both go to Target; they both push a cart around and throw some stuff in it; they both stand in line and text someone about whether to get a pizza later. And they never see each other again.

The alt-right wants Jane to believe some part of her life is Deeply Affected - Damaged, even, by the person behind her in line having a sweetheart of the wrong gender.

30 years ago, Jane agreed with that. She wasn't sure what exactly the problem was, but she wasn't comfortable with it. And businesses had policies for that: If Jane might notice you were gay, you weren't welcome.

That's changed. Jane no longer cares.

WE FUCKIN' WON THIS ONE.

Walmart is not your friend. (Walmart is not anybody's friend.) Walmart is not our ally. But Walmart's merch choices are a damned clear sign of what actual community values are across the US.