#especially in the current political climate

[thelegendofmik]

my disability hit me like a train three and a half years ago and it’s only gotten worse and I still have no answers as to the cause. The thing that terrifies me the most is whether or not the progression I’ve experience was inevitable?? Like even with all the possible available treatments would my mobility be this bad?? Or would it have been prevented with diagnosis and treatment??

Idk the thought that this extent of my suffering could have been prevented given a better healthcare system fucks with my brain so bad.

hope I’m not the only one that feels this way.

[sarasade]

finished rewatching Revolutionary Girl Utena and it always makes me feel a lil fucked-up. It’s always so disturbingly relevant.

[voidwhalebone]

my roman empire historical event is teleki pál's suicide note

[dontworryfolkswetookallherteeth]

While I love the positive energy towards anti fascism, I'm not sure we should be calling the women who protested against sexual assault Karen's. That makes me feel really uncomfortable actually.

[greenhorizonblog]

Instincts and awareness

I'm having one of those more and more frequent moments where it's just like:

We are weird hairless apes... on a floating rock... hurling through the infinite unknowable universe which no one even knows how it started

I see people wanting to be billionaires and I think, for what? you can have all the power, money and fame in the world and guess what?

You're still going to die...

Like everyone else

Money isn't real, private ownership isn't real. The only thing that is real about them is the violence that will be inflicted on you if you stop pretending they are.

We don't have to do all this meaningless and destructive work. Life is not supposed to be this hard

So often my instincts and intuition whisper to me, and they say

I want to eat good food with my friends, I want to rest, I want to play, I want to explore, I want to help, I want to learn, I want to grow, I want to sing, I want to dance, I want to marvel, I want to create, I want to love, I WANT TO LIVE!!!

[silverhalla]

neve came back and I IMMEDIATELY started crying

[lonely-space-ace]

I feel like there's also acephobia in the whole 'oh my gosh its the first queer doctor thing' because like

even if you ignore the fact that the doctor has been explicitly stated to have romantic attraction for people of the same gender for decades now, the Doctor has been seen as ace by writers/actors since the days of Tom Baker, and maybe even before that

and being Ace is still queer, yall get that right?

like yall know the doctor doesn't have to be kissing people of the same gender to be queer... right?

Wondering if there's a bit of acephobia stirred into the mix of that whole "Thasmin is queerbaiting because they didn't kiss" discourse.

Like, y'all do realise that not everyone considers kissing to be the main signifier of relationships, right?

[mityenka]

courtesy of the last few post. your opinions / thoughts on organizing in the present day?

incredibly important if you're serious about your political objectives, actual lasting change can only be brought about collectively!!! it's tedious and frustrating and most of the time you will feel like you're not getting anywhere despite your best efforts but it has to be done. disco elysium voice in dark times should the stars also go out

[confused-alpaca]

had a weird conversation with my dad today in which i had to explain, despite being out to him for multiple years, and him acknowledging this pretty much 1 minute beforehand, that i am, in fact, transgender

[butchvamp]

really disliking this new corporate strategy of using trans people as marketing (hersheys and now bud light(?????)) where these massive billion dollar brands just expose trans women to the most vile harassment possible while they get to profit off their image and pretend to be progressive. like wow cool you put trans women on your chocolate bar and your beer cans but are you like, doing anything for them and the wider community or are you just parading them around...lol. also it really frustrates me that people will eat this shit up. brands targeting the lgbt community as a marketing demographic is not a good thing, actually. it should piss you off that target sells tshirts with the word queer on it. it should piss you off that hersheys "we use child slave labor" chocolate is trying to target you specifically with their advertisements

[awkward-teabag]

I don't spend time in fandom spaces so can confirm it's not something I've ever heard used positively (as in before this post I didn't even know it was a thing let alone something some defend). It's always been used as a negative to imply murder, attempted murder, or as "Think of the children!" pearl-clutching homophobia where I am and who I talk to or have talked to.

Positives have always been "Gay awakening" or "Panics in gay", or some such usage of synonyms. Maybe the "Gaaaaaaay" seal meme from years back if it fits. "Gay panic" is only used when discussing serious topics or mid-late 21st century queer history.

I grew up hearing it used in regards to gaybashing and murder, it's still a valid defence for murder in multiple states and countries, and even if the specific law/defence has a different name locally "Gay panic" is still the colloquial term and understood to have a very specific meaning. A meaning never, ever taken as a positive and which is not uncommonly used to misgender victims.

And that's conversing with multiple people of varying ages across my country and the world so it's definitely not regional nor age-specific.

I'm all for reclamation and linguistic shifts but this... this is one of those things where not enough time has passed (what with it still being something to excuse murdering queer people, but hey! diversity win with "Trans panic" being split off from it despite being the same and used interchangeably to misgender victims?) and if you push it anyway, you have to expect and accept you'll be called out, kicked out, corrected, and/or excluded.

Seeing tumblr users tag their blorboposts with "gay panic" is making me insane. This term does not mean what you all think it means.

[transgymbro]

While I have thoughts about the election that I haven't quite been able to put into words yet, I've seen a lot of misconceptions that "if DIY HRT is so easy for gymbros to get, it must be easy for trans men too!" and "Just go up to a gymbro and ask for his T!"

As the "trans gym bro" blog, I feel like I have to be the one to say

NO. IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE.

First of all, because T is a regulated substance, it is hard for gymbros to get as well. That means even if they DID use T, they would NOT be sharing.

Secondly, there's "natty" culture. For those who aren't in the know "natty" is short for "natural". Being "natty" means you got your gains without the use of testosterone or steroids. There are those of the mindset "if you're not natty whatever, just disclose", but there are also those who look down on the idea of not being natty. Not to mention a lot of these gymbros strongly discourage the use of T in their circles because of the negative effects (namely the aromatization of T into E) of too much T. Basically, not every gymbro uses T, many actively discourage it, and those that do use T are likely hiding it.

Third, very few people are going to just bring their T into a locker room. Partially because of the previous point, but also because the locker room is just unsanitary, often don't have a proper disposal bin for sharps, and/or because the gym bans the use of steroids (sometimes needles I think?) entirely (this may not stop everyone but it's at least a deterrent).

Fourth, and very importantly, a large number of gymbros are transphobic. This varies from ignorant to actively malicious, and you never know which one you're going to get. To be fair, not every single gymbro is transphobic, but there is a large enough portion of them that are, such that you would be at substantial risk if you outed yourself to one. No transmasc in their right mind is going to risk outing themselves to someone who hates you AND is jacked as fuck.

There are other things preventing those who want testosterone HRT from accessing it also, such as doctors refusing to prescribe it to an AFAB person because "you'll ruin your body" reasons, those gymbros being a big part of the reason why T is a controlled substance, as well as it just being unsafe to use someone else's vial of T.

The point is though, we DO need resources for DIY T, ESPECIALLY in the current political climate in the US. Do NOT fucking ignore us because you refuse to acknowledge that not every gymbro is going to fit whatever idea of them you have in your head.

Anyway. I have to hit legs now.

[sunbentshadows]

Been mulling over the news today. But not about Biden, nor Harris. Not the breathless coverage of media-spinning-this-as-another-losing-move-for-Democrats.

I've been thinking about the right-wing in this country. The Republicans. You know, the group the coverage SHOULD be about. Especially as they've fallen into a fascistic cult of personality and vindictive cruelty-as-politics.

What is the Republican platform now? It used to be fiscal conservatism and 'business-interests' (at least on the surface), deregulation, less governmental power. Now it's, well. Trump. Sure. But what are they fighting for? "Get their guy in the White House"?

Well yes. But no. The Republicans are desperately trying to hold power. The power to dismantle the rights of every person in the country who isn't a white-male-Christian-business interest. One of Their Guys.

Why? Why so much now?

Because they're fucking UNPOPULAR. The country doesn't support them! If the entire country voted, the right wing would not meaningfully exist in the US political sphere.

Think about that for a second. REALLY internalize it: If everyone in the US voted, period, full stop. The right would be gone. The Republican party, as it is, now, would be a fucking joke.

So of COURSE they're swinging towards fascism. In a two-party system, a political party's only meaningful directive is survival of the power of their party. The very existence of Project 2025 is proof - it is the last, dying fucking breath a party that has TWO options to stay alive: Fascism and minority-rule, or change.

And they're sure not picking fucking change.

That is what we're up against.

If I could ask ONE thing of any person in the US who desperately wants to keep their human rights, who understands a loss in this election is likely the end of US-democracy as we know it - it would be to point the narrative towards the utterly vile platform of the right wing. Talk about it to everyone. Don't normalize it! Don't EVER say "That's just what Republicans do so it's normal". That's what they want.

If we win the branches of government - if we could make it 10% easier to vote. 5% easier to vote. That could swing elections and politics for a generation. We can even dream bigger: Ranked choice. Mandatory ballots. National holiday voting day.

And Republican strategists know this!! They're so terrified of it they're willing to dismantle the fundamental tenets of the United States of America to prevent it!

PART of why I'm so frustrated with the constant circling-on-Democratic-candidate is because it entirely misses the point. The choice is between a party trying to enshrine minority-Christian-Theocratic-rule in the country for generations - or, you know.

A middlingly-charismatic Democrat.

And, judgement-free - if you had a MOMENT of weighing the 'good' of those things, that's the fucking problem. These things are not remotely equal. The coverage of this political moment is like the coverage of climate change, and it gets into EVERYONE'S head - "The world is ending. But are hot summers REALLY that bad? Experts weigh in!"

The breathless both-sidesing of the current political moment is so appallingly, atrociously irresponsible I hardly have words for how fucking livid I am.

Vote.

[waytootiredstudent]

Okay alright sorry for all the sudden German politics influx but lemme explain what happened so far and why Germans are losing it a bit:

The tldr? Our government is getting a divorce and it's turning messy with elections being called early and now being called even earlier.

The longer version?

Okay so, groundwork first:

in Germany there is a coalition currently in power called the Ampel(traffic lights) bc the colours of the party are red, yellow and green (or not anymore or for much longer??). They're centrist slightly more left leaning than right leaning. (You could argue about that I am aware). There has been infighting for as long as this coalition has been going on. It is also the first three party coalition since y know, the Last Time.

So. Enough groundwork. The yellow party (FDP) has a finance minister (Christiane Lindner) it's this guy

You will see him in memes I am sure. We don't like him. He's an asshole and has blocked every meaningful change that the coalition had been trying to accomplish. He also got his finance plan blocked by our highest court because parts were against our Constitution.

(.... I am oversimplifying hard here it's actually more complicated than that and not fully his fault, but it's also not the focus)

What WAS the fault though of him and the FDP was that they had a strong position of "saving money at all costs" which made bigger and bigger rifts with the two other coalition partners who were more leaftleaning. The war in Ukraine, Infrastructure, climate change - there were many places that needed more money and Lidner was like naaahhhhh for no fucking reason other than "oh we need to save money!!"

Long story short there have been arguing all the fucking time and therefore have started to lose approval. Drastically lose approval. As on for the first time since the Last Time there is a far right party in charge for part of the country that is also being investigated for being Nazis. (Oversimplifying again).

Which is. Worrying. You know. Especially with Trump now being elected. It has us all a little skittish.

The finance minister has also now been fired.

You see. We were all still trying to stomach Trump winning the US election, when Scholz, in the same fucking evening, fired Lindner.

And not in a polite way. Nah. Olaf fucking Scholz our Chancellor, notorious for saying literally nothing, and with a running joke that he regularly stops existing bc that man Does Not Take Stances, a spine of wet cardboard, delivered this yesterday evening:

(English subtitles by me you already got this far watch it I spent too much time on this lol)

And it is insane alright. For his standards and German politic standards thats the equivalent of calling Lindner a egomaniacal bitch that has only his self interest at heart and can not be trusted.

Lindner and his party have been pulverised in all recent elections. Which means that after he was fired, the FDP completely withdrew from the coalition and all minister from the FDP resigned.

....well all but one who apparently stayed in his positions because he's leaving the FDP over this. What sort of shitty backstabbing kindergarten fight is this. (Jokes aside hes the minister of transportation and says he needs to stay in office in important projects. Which. True. Having minister resigning en mass is not good)

Alright cool cool cool cool. Current situation yesterday is the following:

So. Trump is president. Fuck.

Lindner got fired! Yaaay!

Wait my goverment is now also falling apart! Fuck.

Which all lead to new elections being called in Germany.

Mind you, that's not usual ok. I know other countries have systems where they can call an election whenever but that is not a thing that normally happens here. We have a schedule alright. (Insert obligatory "Germans and their plans and structure" joke)

So new elections are called for spring, nearly a year early. Cool cool cool. With a right wing rising in Germany and deeply unpopular current leadership. On the eve of motherfucking trump getting elected.

Habeck, leader of the green party and one of the few policians in germany I think is vaguely liked by ppl (the general attitude in German politics is less "I like this guy" and more "you are the least shitty choice I guess") has appearently also nearly started crying after the news broke. So. Yeah.

Now. Let's make this shitshow complete,alright?

There is this party. CDU. They had been in charge for a very long time in Germany. Centrist, right leaning, with the afd on the rising even more right leaning than before. Their current leader is Friedrich Merz, as unpleasant as human beings can go.

He has now called for the new election to be not in a few months but like. To be called next week.

In the current climate.

So yeah. if you're German mutuals and friends are currently going through their own stages of grief - this is why.

[shapelytimber]

Part 2 part 2 part 2 !!!

Still working on the new recap / height chart for my sw sapphic au ! Last time was the prequels gals, this time it's our favorite og trilogy rebels :D

[COMMISSIONS]

[PART 1] - [PART 2] - [PART 3]

Yapping and a dumb bonus sketch below vvv

I had so much fun with these (and they turned out better than part 1 djdndk strangely being in a slightly less stressfull political climate leads to doing better art who would have thought-) !!

Especially with the Han Lando and Leia sandwich- idk placing looser dyke Han Solo in the middle of her ex and current partner, both incredible femmes... it adds to her inexplicable rizz ! Also here's a shitty comic I made to show the vision(tm) to my friend djdkdk

(Link to featured post)

But I must say I'm also kinda proud of Luke :) I am guetting closer to something I like with their design ! And I'm proud of this outfit

PS : I didn't place pride flags next to chewbacca's name, these are answers you must find within (or ask @quijicroix, n1 girl chewbacca fucker)

[hussyknee]

I know some dickheads have now decided that Judaism is the "bad, violent, terrorist religion" and Islam is the "good, peaceful" one, which is only to be expected of white people, but how much of an issue is it currently? Like I've seen some USAmericans sharing how the Islamic faith shapes Gazans values and perseverance (good) except with that distinct white hippie "I'm about to imprint on this like the world's most racist duck" vibe (bad), but I didn't think they're already turning on Judaism in numbers.

Do they realize that Christianity is also the same kind of comfort to Christian minorities in Asia and Africa? That it was Buddhists that genocided the Rohingyas in Myanmar and Tamils in Sri Lanka? That Hindu fundamentalists are even now trying to ethnically cleanse Muslims in India? How Hindus and Christians are terrorized and persecuted in Pakistan? That Muslims have a history of persecuting and ethnically cleansing Jews too?

Really tired of asking y'all to be normal about people's religions man. There's no religion that's inherently violent or exceptionally peaceful. It's just like any other ideology that becomes a weapon in the hands of ethnic power. Interrogate power, not religion, and respect people's belief systems insofar as they aren't in your business.

Edit: I've amended the "long history" of Muslim persecution of Jews because it might be misleading in the current political climate. Zionism and antisemitic Arab nationalism are twin births resulting directly from Christian colonization, and Islamic empires tended to actually be more tolerant of other religions compared to Christianity, especially Judaism, which was considered a sibling religion. Antisemitism wasn't ideologically entrenched in Islamic tradition. It's simply that ethno-religious power will lead to ethno religious domination and intermittent cleansing of minorities, and Islam is no exception. Humans be humaning always.