#gender sexuality alliance

[punkspassion]

Feeling a bit of queer joy today! I’ve been really struggling for a long time because of a lack of community (for context I live in a super tiny town and im the only openly queer person in my school)

But! Me and my friend are gonna try to start a GSA at my school!!!! It’s giving me hope. Reminding me that we’re here, and we’re not going anywhere no matter what. Being around other LGBTQIA+ people really makes me understand Chappel Roan’s song “Pink Pony Club” on another level. It feels like the embodiment of joy and acceptance and finding community for the first time and how life changing that can be.

Im here, Queer and not going anywhere

[eats-a-berry]

[abernathyvalois]

the craziest part about being queer and closeted is that you don’t even know how exhausting it is until it hits in the most random situations

[george-harrisons-last-biscuit]

Power Point Night: The Beatles

Last semester a club I am in had a power point night and I thought I'd share them here.

[jokersjr]

sometimes i forget i was a gsa president and then i remember oh yeah. i did that

[moonshadowslament]

lord have mercy

pride event in my town had a photo booth with these :3

on another note, my GSA (gender and sexuality alliance) club had a snack table and we made $188 in donations!! i’m so happy i got to help with it and be apart of something that my town needs—there’s so many outspoken bigots here that kids are terrified to be themselves. GSA is a safe space at my high school and i hope more people will join 🫶🫶🫶

[luna-azzurra]

Some examples of challenging obstacles for characters to face

Personal Tragedy, The sudden loss of a loved one throws the protagonist into a state of grief and despair, forcing them to navigate the complex emotions of mourning while still grappling with their responsibilities and goals.

Betrayal, A trusted friend or ally betrays the protagonist, revealing hidden agendas or turning against them at a critical moment, leaving the protagonist feeling betrayed and alone, and forcing them to reevaluate their relationships and alliances.

Physical Limitations, The protagonist suffers a debilitating injury or illness that threatens to derail their plans and ambitions, leaving them physically weakened and vulnerable, and forcing them to find new ways to adapt and overcome their limitations.

Social Prejudice, The protagonist faces discrimination or prejudice based on their race, gender, sexuality, or social class, making it difficult for them to achieve their goals and forcing them to confront systemic injustice and inequality.

Impossible Choices, The protagonist is faced with a series of impossible choices, each with its own moral or ethical consequences, forcing them to weigh the lesser of two evils and grapple with the fallout of their decisions.

Internal Conflict, The protagonist battles with their own inner demons, such as addiction, trauma, or mental illness, which threaten to sabotage their efforts and undermine their sense of self-worth and purpose.

Rivalry, The protagonist finds themselves locked in a bitter rivalry with a formidable adversary, such as a rival athlete, business competitor, or romantic rival, pushing them to their limits as they strive to outmaneuver and outwit their opponent.

Existential Crisis, The protagonist wrestles with profound existential questions about the meaning of life, the nature of reality, and their place in the universe, confronting their own mortality and searching for purpose and meaning amidst the chaos and uncertainty of existence.

[tigerrsmn]

Twin Cities vigil for Nex Benedict, organized by Thomas Edison High Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

[gloomglimmer]

𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐑  𝟎𝟎𝟏  here  is  my  latest  dossier  template!  designed  to  help  you  explore  and  develop  your  character  in  depth!  please,  like  or  reblog  if  you  intend  on  using. 

BASICS

Full  Name:

Known  Alias(es):

Age:

Gender:

Birthday:

Heritage:

Religion:

Sexual  &  Romantic  Orientation:

Status:  (Alive,  deceased,  missing,  verse-dependent,  etc.)

Residencies:  (List  properties,  safe  houses,  or  frequently  visited  locations.)

Highest  Education  Level:

Occupation(s):  (Primary  career,  side  ventures,  or  any  criminal  affiliations.)

PHYSICAL  EXAM

Facial  Features:

Faceclaim:  (Optional  visual  reference)

Voice:  (Describe  tone,  accent,  speaking  style,  and  cadence.)

Voiceclaim:  (Optional  reference  for  speech  patterns  or  voice  tone.)

Eyes:

Hair:

Body  Type:

Distinguishable  Marks:  (Scars,  tattoos,  or  unique  features.)

Weight:

Height:

MENTAL  EVALUATION

Mental  Illnesses  (if  applicable):  (Diagnosed  or  speculated  disorders.)

Psychological  Profile:  (Core  motivations,  fears,  triggers,  etc.)

Positive  Traits:  (List  at  least  four.)

Negative  Traits:  (List  at  least  four.)

Alignment  Type:  (D&D  alignment  or  custom  moral  code.)

Personality  Type  (MBTI):

Phobias:  (If  any.)

Mannerisms:  (Unconscious  habits,  nervous  tics,  or  common  gestures.)

Hobbies  &  Interests:  (Leisure  activities,  intellectual  pursuits,  or  obsessions.)

STRATEGIC  ANALYSIS

Combat  Style:  (Brutal,  strategic,  erratic,  refined?)

Weapon  of  Choice:  (Blades,  firearms,  improvised  weapons,  etc.)

Hand-to-Hand  Combat  Proficiency:  (Strengths  &  weaknesses  in  close  combat.)

Tactical  Strengths:  (Leadership,  adaptability,  patience,  etc.)

Tactical  Weaknesses:  (Blind  spots,  arrogance,  temper,  emotional  ties.)

Signature  Techniques:  (Favored  moves  or  combat  tricks.)

Pain  Tolerance:  (How  well  do  they  withstand  pain  or  injuries?)

Defensive  Skills:  (Escape  artist?  Counter-fighter?  Tank?)

AFFILIATIONS  &  RELATIONSHIPS

Family:  (List  members  and  relationship  status.)

Allies  &  Associates:  (Trusted  confidants  or  powerful  connections.)

Rivalries:  (Ongoing  personal  or  professional  conflicts.)

Enemies:  (Those  actively  working  against  them.)

Romantic  History:  (List  known  or  rumored  relationships.)

Notable  Friends:  (True  friendships  vs.  strategic  alliances.)

HABITS  &  LIFESTYLE

Daily  Routine:  (Structured,  chaotic,  or  ritualistic?)

Diet  &  Nutrition:  (Healthy,  indulgent,  restrictive,  etc.)

Exercise  Habits:  (Type  and  frequency  of  physical  activity.)

Grooming  Habits:  (Meticulous,  rugged,  or  indifferent?)

Substance  Use:  (Drinks?  Smokes?  Drugs?  How  frequently?)

Sleep  Patterns:  (Well-rested  or  chronically  exhausted?)

Personal  Aesthetic:  (Style,  wardrobe,  and  preferred  fashion  choices.)

Favorite  Books:

Favorite  Music  Genres:

Favorite  Art/Architecture:  (If  applicable.)

SPECIAL  NOTES  &  CHARACTER  LORE

insert  here

[platinumshawnn]

Bound by Blood and Fire Masterlist

A/N: posted and upcoming chapters, their descriptions and updates regarding dates are below the cut. <33

Overview: Amidst rising tensions and a looming war, House Tully seeks to strengthen its strongest alliances by proposing a marriage between Benjicot Blackwood, heir to Raventree, and Elmo Tully’s only daughter.

Last updated: Sept 23 2024 (pt 10/13)

Content warnings: MDNI — 18+, adult language, mentions of blood, violence, and war; era related sexism and gender based harassment/discrimination, sexual content, mild depictions of family based violence, implied suicide ideation. TO BE EDITED AT A LATER DATE.

fancasting

inspo playlist:

ACT I — sanctus

“the saint”

prologue (07/14/2024):

Synopsis: Serra Tully, the only daughter of acting Lord Elmo Tully, comes to an agreement to betroth his daughter to heir of Raventree’s Blackwood, Beniicot Blackwood

1.6k words

pt i (07/17/2024):

Synopsis: Lady Tully and Kermit travel to Raventree to reunite with a long-time family acquaintance amidst finalizing the details of the pending nuptials with Lord Blackwood.

6.6k words

pt ii (07/26/2024)

Synopsis: Elmo and Oscar Tully arrive at House Blackwood to be debriefed on the finalized terms of Serra’s and Benjicot’s betrothal. Tensions among the houses rise as Serra receives support from her father and yields to giving Benjicot a chance. As their engagement is announced to the other houses, news of murders in King’s Landing highlights the broader conflict looming over them. (Contains sexual content, i.e. male masturbation)

9k words

pt iii (08/02/2024)

6.2k words

syn: news of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen's murder rocks the Seven Kingdoms, intensifying tensions at Raventree Hall. Benjicot urges immediate action against House Bracken, while Samwell advises caution. Serra seeks solace in the godswood amidst growing unease. With the wedding approaching, diplomatic tensions rise as troop movements near their borders escalate, casting a shadow over Benjicot and Serra's impending union

pt iv (08/06/2024)

7k words

syn: Amidst growing turmoil, Elmo Tully works to forge alliances with old rivals. As wedding planning forges ahead, storm clouds gather over Raventree Hall. Guests arrive for the betrothal feast with hidden anxieties, while Serra and Benjicot struggle to find common ground to ensure their marriage's success. Benjicot's olive branch to Serra offers some hope, despite her doubts. The families celebrate amid rising tensions and news from King’s Landing implicating Rhaenyra in Prince Jaehaerys’s murder. Lord Samwell hears of the Brackens crossing their borders and finally cracks underneath the pressure of his council.

pt v (08/13/2024)

7.1k words

syn: The Brackens retaliate and send their own men to the frontline and into Blackwood territory four days to the wedding, causing some concerns amongst the members of the Blackwood house. Benjicot impulsively takes things into his own hands and mistakenly escalates things. 

pt vi (08/18/2024)

10.1k words

syn: Two days to the wedding and the risk of more bloodshed looms at the boundaries between Brackens and Blackwoods as the council encounter a bump following Benjicot’s actions.

Serra begins to hear rumors around the castle of the impending battle and word from King’s Landing regarding an army of Aegon’s that is making its way along the western shore and targeting the houses on his behalf. Serra approaches her father again regarding the matter amidst finalizing wedding plans and finds comfort and friendship in another Blackwood. (Contains sexually suggestive content, i.e. making out and heavy petting)

pt vii (08/25/2024)

17.5k words

syn: On the morning of the much-anticipated wedding, the feud between the Brackens and Blackwoods comes to a head, leaving everyone on edge. Benjicot ends his first day as a husband as the acting Lord of Raventree, as Samwell heads to the Redfork to confront the Brackens despite Benjicot's eagerness to go on his houses' behalf. Despite the ongoing Battle of the Burning Mill, Serra and Benjicot celebrate a successful wedding. (Contains NSFW 18+ content, i.e. smut)

pt viii (09/06/2024)

8.4K words

syn: Serra and Benjicot's newly-wed bliss is interrupted by news from the Battle of Burning Mill, leaving Raventree in a state of grief amidst changes. Serra attempts to comfort Benjicot and better understand him in the early days of marriage. (Contains sexually suggestive content)

ACT II — heres

“the heir”

pt ix (09/23/2024)

syn: A year after the wedding of House Tully and House Blackwood (130 AC) -- in the aftermath of the Battle by the Lakeshore, the Dance of Dragons continues to rage on. Benjicot returns home and confides in his wife about the horrors of war as he prepares for another return to the battlefield and makes a plea to Rhaenyra.

pt x (date tba)

pt xi (date tba)

pt xiii (date tba) — finale 

[tarysande]

Mass Effect 2: The Case for the Heroine's Journey

I have a theory. And I think it's something others--especially other storytellers--might find interesting. It explains why some people absolutely adore Mass Effect 2 while others (not as many, in my experience!) think dealing with all the companions and their personal quests is boring or irrelevant.

What it boils down to is the difference between the Hero's Journey and the Heroine's Journey. There a couple of takes on the Heroine's Journey (ranging from more philosophical and psychoanalytical to more story-based), and I'm going to be pulling hard from the story-based iteration, which author Gail Carriger has written a fabulous book about. I highly recommend it.

One thing I want to mention right off the bat: the gender, sex, or sexuality of your protagonist has nothing to do with whether they're a hero or a heroine.

Everyone and their dog knows the Hero's Journey. A literal ton of writing advice refers to the Hero's Journey as if it's the be-all and end-all of narrative (thanks Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Christopher Vogler); it ain't called the monomyth for nothing.

But if a part of you grits your teeth every time it gets trotted out as The One Right Way to tell a story that sells or a story people love, you may have your mind blown by the concept of the Heroine's Journey. Every single one of you who tingles with excitement at the very thought of found family (or romance, for that matter)? Yeah, strap in, we're going for a ride.

I don't want to go into a lot of detail about the Hero's Journey; it's everywhere. You know it even if you don't realize you know it. So for brevity's sake, I'll give you wikipedia's one-sentence description: a hero goes on an adventure, is victorious in a decisive crisis, and comes home changed or transformed. Luke Skywalker. Everyone always talks about Luke Skywalker. And on the surface, Mass Effect could seem like a Hero's Journey, right?

According to Gail, a Hero's Journey boils down to

A repeated pattern of withdrawal and return, and those withdrawals are voluntary, as voluntary withdrawal and increased isolation yields self-reliant strength.

Victory is in isolation and asking for help is bad.

But looking at it (especially ME2) through the lens of the Heroine's Journey is where it gets interesting.

This is the infographic Gail created and supplies on her website:

In her book, Gail notes that not every element has to be present to qualify a story as a Hero/Heroine's Journey and the events don't have to happen specifically in this order.

In the Heroine's Journey

The heroine's withdrawal is involuntary; something is broken and she must abdicate the power she had in order to rebuild, retrieve, or reunite with what was taken or broken.

Victory is a group effort; asking for help is a sign of strength; and the protagonist realizes that while she can't do everything herself, she has surrounded herself with people whose skills she can effectively deploy.

In the Heroine's Journey, the DESCENT is involuntary. Something is done to her or taken from her, and it breaks her familial network.

In ME2, obviously, uh, the thing that's taken from Shepard is her own life. Of course, instead of that being the end of the story, it's the inciting incident that leads to the involuntary withdrawal from her found family on the Normandy, her connection to the Alliance, and her Spectre status. Her home is literally destroyed. And then, kinda hilariously, she wakes up in the literal underworld. You know. Cerberus, dog that guards the gates of Hades?

I play a very Paragon Shepard and haven't played Renegade, so I can't speak to that. However, I can tell you that my Paragon Shep wakes up working for Cerberus and promptly proceeds to gain more Renegade points in the first couple of missions--hell, the first couple of conversations with Miranda, Jacob, and TIM--than she got in all of ME1.

Jacob: Do you trust me, Shepard? Shepard: NO, omg.

I've probably played ME2 five or six times with this Shepard, and she always strikes me as a bit off, a bit manic even, until she sees Tali. And she doesn't really start to settle or feel like herself until Archangel takes off his helmet, believes she is who she says she is, and without hesitation agrees to follow her into hell.

(As the protagonist in his own story, Garrus is also a heroine on a Heroine's Journey, by the by. Shepard's death breaks his network; C-Sec and the Council's denial of the Reapers leads to his abdication of power in the hunt for justice. His underworld is Omega. He puts together a surrogate family to fight injustice; he learns to delegate; he doesn't do it for glory... And then Sidonis's betrayal breaks the new family and sends him on another cycle. My theory, however, is that if you let him kill Sidonis, his journey takes on the revenge aspect of a Hero's Journey instead of the family and reunification structure of a Heroine's Journey.)

In ME2, the arc of recruiting an ally, earning their loyalty, and deploying their suggestions to improve the entire team's chances of survival is repeated over and over; this is the SEARCH of the cycle. And anyone who's ever tried to race their way through ME2 without doing all those loyalty missions or without scanning all those planets for resources finds out pretty quick why they're important.

So, while you potentially could race through ME1 without even recruiting several teammates (did you even know you can play that game without recruiting Garrus???), thereby making it much more of a Hero's Journey of the Strength of the Individual, you really can't do that in ME2 without massive casualties. You need the people around you. You need to build relationships. And you need to learn to delegate well, or things will absolutely fall apart during the end run.

Even the stated mission of ME2 is more Heroine's Journey. You're not fighting for glory; in fact, most of the people who used to be in awe of you now think you're a crazy terrorist. You're fighting to stop what's happening to human colonists.

The end run is so satisfying specifically because it leans in to the Heroine's Journey of information gathering and network building. You cannot beat the game as a solitary soldier. You cannot achieve a good outcome--minimal deaths, etc.--without having spent a lot of time and effort gaining the loyalty of your crew and then knowing how to deploy them to best serve the whole team.

ME2 is a story about finding and building a family after the last one is broken.

And though it's a whole other can of worms, I actually think the reason why the ending of ME3 was ultimately so unsatisfying for so many (again, not all) is because the majority of the game is once again a Heroine's Journey--team building and information gathering across the galaxy--but the endgame pulls the expected narrative out from under you. Instead of actually using the resources you've so carefully built, you're quite literally beamed up into complete isolation (weakness) and left to make a choice in isolation. It breaks the narrative promise that's been set up since the beginning of the game. And, whether you realize it or not, that's a huge part of why that lonely choice feels so hollow. Instead of a structured reunion and a rebuilt network, it's actually the broken family and involuntary descent that heralds the beginning of a new Heroine's Journey--not the the end of a successful one.

Also, incidentally? It's Heroine's Journeys that usually get satisfying instead of distracting-the-hero-from-his-real-mission romance, banter, fully realized side characters, and humor.

[coochiequeens]

Australia…. Where the government knew which members of the disabled community to subject to forced sterilization yet believes a sex offender with a penis is a woman.

An Australian man convicted of sexually abusing a child in a public restroom has begun identifying as a woman and is being referred to as female by the court, with multiple references to “her penis” appearing in hearing records. Khadir Kamoun, 33, plead guilty to charges of intentionally inciting a 14 year-old boy to sexually touch him, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years but for which he was handed a 2 year sentence.

According to court records, on the evening of February 18, 2021, the victim was at Bankstown Centro Shopping Centre in Sydney with a friend and members of the friend’s family. The boy indicated that he needed to use the restroom, and reportedly saw Kamoun walking nearby. He was carrying a bag on his shoulder.

When the boy located and entered the facilities, he saw Kamoun exiting a cubical, and noticed that Kamoun had left his bag inside the cubicle. Kamoun retrieved the bag and then ushered the boy inside, saying: “It’s okay go, go, go.” The victim entered the cubicle, closed and locked the door.

After exiting the cubicle, the boy made his way to the sinks and, through the mirror, he saw Kamoun standing inside the cubicle behind him. Kamoun was looking directly at the boy, with his pants partially down and his penis exposed.

The boy saw Kamoun masturbating himself, at which point he urged the victim to come closer, whispering for the boy to be quiet and waving him over with one hand. Frightened, the boy ignored Kamoun and began using the automatic hand dryer located next to the sink in the restroom.

Kamoun then approached the victim and grabbed his hand, which he attempted to place on his exposed genitals. The child pulled his hand away and ran out the restroom. Kamoun began to follow him, prompting the child to run faster until he was able to meet up with his friend’s family. In tears, the boy called his own family and relayed details of the incident to them.

The legal representative defending Kamoun, barrister Ronald Driels, attempted to portray the incident as a one-off occurrence of public exhibitionism “with a bit more.” However, Magistrate Glen Walsh argued that the claim “substantially understates the seriousness of the offending” and highlighted Kamoun’s history of sexual crimes.

In December of 2012, Kamoun was accused of sending indecent materials to groom a child under the age of 16 for sex. He was also charged with sexual assault and indecent assault. The details of the case are limited. According to court records, Magistrate Walsh stated that “this is not a record that entitles [him] to leniency.”

While he was detained in a men’s prison awaiting trial, forensic psychologist Dr. Kris North diagnosed Kamoun as having ‘gender dysphoria’ in addition to depression and PTSD. 

In light of what the court determined was a “a dysfunctional upbringing” that involved “difficulties at school and an erratic employment history,” as well as “violence perpetrated against the offender by [his] father arising from or relating to [his] gender or sexual orientation,” Kamoun was granted a lenient sentence despite his “serious offenses” that involved sexually abusing children.

The court also noted the “inconvenience” faced by Kamoun at having been placed in a men’s correctional facility which resulted in “unwanted sexual advances in custody and inability to obtain hormone replacement treatment.”

Despite the leniency of the sentence, Kamoun attempted to file a severity appeal, arguing the sentence was “crushing” when considering the fact he has been in custody since April of 2021. But the appeal was rejected by the district court, which affirmed the 2-year jail sentence that had been handed down by the local magistrate in December of 2022.

While each state in Australia has different policies with respect to housing transgender inmates, according to Women’s Forum, New South Wales, where Kamoun was sentenced, has a “self-identification policy,” meaning that prisoners are meant to be placed in a facility based on how they identify. Exceptions are made in cases where there are safety “concerns or doubts around the authenticity of the prisoner’s gender identification.”

As Kamoun has now been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, it is likely he will apply for transfer to the female estate.

By Genevieve Gluck

Genevieve is the Co-Founder of Reduxx, and the outlet's Chief Investigative Journalist with a focused interest in pornography, sexual predators, and fetish subcultures. She is the creator of the podcast Women's Voices, which features news commentary and interviews regarding women's rights.

Australian women with disabilities face “reproductive violence”, including forced sterilisations, abortions and contraception, an inquiry will hear.

Organisations set to give evidence to the Senate inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare on Friday have said in their submissions that carers and a discriminatory healthcare system are violating women’s rights.

Forced sterilisation is not prohibited in Australia, while women with disabilities are vulnerable to family violence including being forced to have abortions or use contraception.

The Victorian Women’s Health Services Network said women with disabilities were “refused the right to consent to medical treatment including abortion, and are more likely to experience reproductive coercion than women without disabilities”.

Victorian organisation Women’s Health in the South East said forced sterilisation was often performed to prevent pregnancy, that it breached “every international human rights treaty to which Australia is a party” and “constitutes torture”.

The Family Planning Alliance said parents, guardians and doctors are making decisions on behalf of women with disability, with “no strategies in place to improve their understanding of their reproductive choices and rights”.

The Public Health Association of Australia said people with disabilities should be given disability-specific information about contraception use and managing menstruation, and should have their right to be pregnant and parent protected.

Women With Disabilities Australia told the inquiry in February that widespread discrimination and ableist attitudes resulted in “multiple and extreme” violations of rights.

Carolyn Frohmader, WWDA’s executive director, said the right “for everybody to make their own choices about their body, to have full control over their body, their sexuality, their health, relationships, if and when to get married or not, if and when to have children or not, without any form of discrimination, coercion or violence” was a fundamental human right.

“[Everyone should have the right to] be free from anyone else making personal decisions about sexuality and reproductive matters, and to access sexual and reproductive health information, education, services and support,” she said.

“These egregious forms of reproductive violence have no place in a civilised world, and yet remain lawful in this country.”

She said Australia was “a wealthy country that still allows practices such as forced sterilisation, forced abortion, forced contraception and menstrual suppression”.

“This is nothing short of shameful,” she said.

The latest statistics on forced sterilisation from the Australian Guardianship and Administration Council show there were nine forced sterilisations in 2020-21.

Frohmader said women with disabilities were put on long-acting reversible contraceptives (Larc) for years or decades longer than they should be, which can lead to osteoporosis.

“One woman, 47 years old, complaining constantly of lower back pain, is given Panadol. She had been on a Larc for 25 years and, of course, had never had a bone density test,” she said.

“After agitation, advocacy and intervention from our organisation, of course we got her a bone density test, and she was absolutely riddled with osteoporosis.”

The Australian Lawyers for Human Rights women and girls’ rights co-chair, Tania Penovic, said there was anecdotal evidence that women who were assaulted or raped, or deemed incapable of looking after a child, were forced to have abortions.

Decisions on behalf of women with cognitive disabilities could be made by a “substitute decision-maker” or through a guardianship arrangement.

In January, the royal commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability published a report on supported decision-making, where the person with a disability has trusted advisers to help them make choices.

It proposed a framework around universal principles including dignity and risk, co-leadership and equal rights to make decisions, support and safeguards.

ALHR highlighted the “urgent need” to prevent forced sterilisation and contraception.

It called on Australia to “introduce national uniform legislation to ensure that the use of sterilisation, abortion and the administration of contraception can only be carried out with prior, free and fully informed consent”, and to “take immediate steps to replace substitute decision-making with supported decision-making and repeal all legislation that authorises medical intervention without the free and informed consent of the persons concerned”.

The committee will report in May.

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

Some headcanons about queer acceptance among the different amphibian species which I came up with for the purposes of my fic

FROGS

There are some rare species of frogs in real life that can change sex according to enviromental pressures. This is true in Amphibia as well. The existance of a biological precedent results in frog culture having a pretty well-established concept of "gender transition" as a normal part of some frogs' lives. This doesn't mean frogs who can change sex can do it on command, or that the change is related to gender identity. It's not, more often than not, but this also means there's a precedent for a frog's gender "not matching" their sex, if someone changes sex involuntarialy. The presence of these frogs, while rare and only found in some regions of the continent, has resulted in the relationship between sex and gender not being self-evident in frog culture. While most transgender frogs can't "naturally transition" and have no acces to either the medical technology or magic to transition physically, they're considered completely normal. Frogs whose sex "doesn't match" their gender because of an involuntary change resulting from enviromental pressures are considered a different identity from frogs who socially transition because their gender identity "doesn't match" their agab, since these are different experiences.

Frogs die like flies, that's just a fact. The average way to die is being eaten by a giant bug before reaching 40. This means that 1) a lot of frogs are orphaned from a young age and 2) parents can't reliably expect their biological children to inherit property. So, adoption is incredibly common. Unlike in the case of newts and toads, biological ties are not a requirement for transmision of lands, property or titles (it's rare for frogs to have titles, but there are some cases), so same-sex couples pose no obstacle in the community's social reproduction. If anything, they're valued precisely due to their inability to have biological children, because it means there will always be a surplus of child-free adults in a community to adopt and protect orphaned tadpoles. A couple without children will be better equipped to care for an orphaned child than a family with lots of children.

Arranged marriages are common, especially in rural areas. Kids will often be engaged to each other from a young age as an agreement between their respective families in order to establish social alliances, protect property and ensure a good social standing. Parents often take into account their children's feelings on the matter and will try to find them an agreeable match, but they're the ones with the final word. Because heterosexual unions are still more common than same-gender ones, most arranged marriages are between male and female frogs. Same-gender arranged unions exist, but they're rare. A young frog is expected to fulfill the arrangement regardless of their sexual orientation, but because the main concern has to do with legal ties of inheritance, some spouses will allow their partners to pursue other people without their families' knowledge.

TOADS

Toad culture is incredibly militarized. They are considered legal adults by age 15 and, through a yearly lottery, many are expected to fulfill 15 years of compulsory military service in a Toad Tower, most likely one far away from where they were born. If your name comes out in the lottery, there are a few ways to avoid having to go. One is being extremely rich and buying your way out of it. Another is being disabled in a way that would incapacitate you to fight. While there are positions in the tower that don't require much physical prowess (there are stewards, tailors, cooks, scribes, accountants etc) these typically require some previous training. The toads drafted are used as foot soldiers. You can always also run away and become a bandit or a mercenary, which is very common. The fourth option is having biological children. Many toads will have children very young and give them up for adoption after a year, which means toad orphanages are brimming with unwanted tadpoles. Those, plus the ones whose parents died. This means adoption is also common in toads, though many of these young toads will grow up in the orphanage before joining a toad tower at age 15 willingly, hoping to make a name for themselves and earn a better life. Now, in a tower, same-sex relationships are actually more widely accepted than heterosexual unions, because a couple having biological children would force their captain to relieve them of their post. It would become an incredibly easy way for soldiers to abandon the towers without being labeled as traitors. There are a few incentives not to try this - a toad that completes their services will be set up for life, but one that doesn't, even through "legal means" such as becoming unable to fight or having children, won't get anything (if that sounds horribly ableist to you, it's because it is. The point is to save resources by providing for as few veterans as possible). If you're an orphan who comes from nothing, you really want to avoid that. Anyway, same-sex couples don't have that problem, so they give their captains less of a headache.

There are no toad species capable of naturally switching sexes, and since their encounters with frogs are often limited unless they live in a frog-majority town, their concept of gender transition is a bit more awkward. Many don't understand the purpose, or think it's a frivolous thing, a waste of time, something for soft-hearted frogs and the toad civilians that become too enamored with them. If it involves lots of introspection and consideration of your own feelings, it's worthless. Sure, they'll respect your pronouns if you insist on it, but they'll probably think you're pathetic and weak.

Toads have very little concept of individuality. The idea of "being your true self" sounds ridiculous to many, because the system crushes a toad's self. Caring about things like identity would make you sound self-important, pretentious, egocentric. A toad does not sit on the window to ponder their feelings. No one cares about their feelings. Sometimes they act on them, but they don't think about them.

Most toads don't own anything. The small portions of land given to veterans return to the Crown once they pass, and their children will have to find somewhere else to live. Many times, they join a tower, because they grant them some stability and security. They don't have titles either. Unless a family manages to buy land and/or property, there is no inheritance. Once a family acquires it, however, preserving the inheritance becomes a big priority. But unlike frogs, ancient laws hailing from the age of the old Toad Lords determine that only biological children may inherit. That means that if a family already has biological children, they're not likely to adopt, because that would only cause trouble and leave their adopted child with nothing. So, most heterosexual couples won't adopt, resulting in most cases of adoption coming from same-sex ones.

This leaves families with same-sex parents at an extreme disadvantage. Many toads will move on from same-sex relationships after their service and settle in heterosexual marriages in order to achieve safety and security. Same-sex relationships are accepted in younger toads, but it's something you're supposed to move on from if you want a stable adult life.

Of course, this is just the "ideal" outcome. "Ideal" cases are rare even among heterosexual unions and many toads lead much different lives after their service: becoming bandits, staying unmarried, sometimes even going to college and pursuing a career. Not to mention that around 1/3 of toads are never drafted at all.

NEWTS

The thing with newts is that they live the most peaceful lives. The most dangerous areas of Amphibia are guarded by the Toad Towers, while newt nobles enjoy the safety of kinder, more gracious lands. Sudden deaths are rare, and orphans are rarer. Even if a child happens to lose both their parents, they will likely have aunts or grandparents to look after them. Adoption is much less common, which makes same-sex couples less important as a social institution.

The other thing! While frogs and toads reproduce through amplexus - a position in which the male lies on the back of the female to rub their cloacas together and inseminate her - which, for the purposes of this analysis, we'll say fulfills a similar role to sex in our world, newts engage in external reproduction. Basically, a male releases a package of sperm called spermatophore, which the female absorbs with her cloaca, without the need for physical contact. Which means that newts don't f*ck. And since reproduction occurs without "sex", they have no need for sexual attraction. Therefore, all newts are asexual (though aromanticism is rare).

Some newts may consider themselves above toads and frogs, who they see as being brutish and impulsive, unable to control their desires. Many toads and frogs see newts as being cold and unloving regarding "sex". Some newts in romantic relationships with frogs or toads may engage in amplexus for the sake of their partners.

There are no newt or salamander species with the ability to change their sex, so newts isolated in Newtopia, who know little of what happens outside the city walls, may have never heard about frogs who can. The concept of a sex change is foreign to them. However, transgender newts do exist and, if they have the money, they have access to the best medical technology Newtopia has to offer, though it doesn't come with the social acceptance found in frog-majority regions.

Same-sex relationships are discouraged among noble folk due to the importance of inheritance, while working-class newts are more likely to engage in same-sex behaviors. Thus, homosexuality is considered something "impulsive" and "inelegant". A general bad idea if you care about your status at all.

SOME NOTES

Queer individuals don't face any extreme form of persecution. Gender transition and same-sex behaviors are strongly discouraged in some situations, but there are no laws prohibiting them and cases of violence against these individuals are practically unheard of.

Toads don't tend to identify with any specific labels, such as "gay" or "transgender", going off more by behavior than identity. A toad is not "gay", they simply practice gay activities.

Frogs do have different terms to identify transgender individuals, but not same-sex attracted individuals, who are also considered not to have any one specific identity but to engage in a varied arrange of same-sex behaviors.

Working-class newts are the ones most attached to the idea of labels and specific identities, while noble newts avoid the irremovability of labels, as they don't want rumors to stain their social standing. It's less world-dooming to be caught engaging in homosexual activities than to be forever labeled as a homosexual.

Arranged marriages between same-sex couples are only heard of among frogs, and even then they're rare.

The scientific term for frogs who can change their sex naturally is "sequential hermaphrodites". This is a very sciency term and while it's not considered offensive, different communities have different words for them. In Frog Valley, they're called "switchies". The Sundews are switchies! While Felicia and Ivy have never changed sex before, it's known that Sylvia has "switched" at least four times in her life! The term they use for transgender individuals who are not sequential hermaphrodites is "false switchies", which sounds bad, but has no pejorative connotations. it simply means the switching is purely social and not physical.

Anne is considered a "switchie" as opposed to a "false switchie" because she did "switch" some of her physical characteristics with the help of Maddie. Witches are very rare, especially in the south, so there are no specific terms for frogs who transition through magic, or even modern newtopian medicine.

[callahanisms]

general ash headcanons

because the show didn't want ash to be an actual character. so here are some headcanons including some backstory elements because it actually pisses me off that they never developed her beyond a love interest.

i've been letting this stew and simmer for some time now.

♡ ash is short for ashley. she prefers ash because it's shorter. her name on canvas appears as "ashley de la cruz" and it took people a while to figure out it was her because on zoom it says "ash" and she has a meme profile picture.

♡ dad is mexican, mom is white. spent a lot of time with her dad's side of the family growing up. fluent in spanish. definitely has a younger brother that's way more spoiled than she is. as mentioned here, she peeled fruit with her grandparents a lot.

♡ raised catholic. baptized, communion, and confirmation. she deconstructed her faith while in high school. she doesn't go to mass unless she's forced to. but she still keeps her lady of guadalupe medal and her crucifix necklace.

♡ has a sourdough starter that she likes to feed.

♡ volunteers at the women's center on her own time. would probably end up taking over after ginger graduates.

♡ wears denim. lots of denim. her favorite denim jacket has embroidered flowers and a butterfly patch sewn onto it.

♡ freshman year she had long hair that reached her chest. and then she cut it while she was exploring her masc identity.

♡ knows how to use conditioner. i don't care what the show says. this girl knows how to use conditioner. does have minimal knowledge on makeup and skin care, but she's also fortunate enough not to have too many breakouts. she has definitely poked her eye once while doing eyeliner.

♡ big headphone person. when she's walking to class by herself she has them over her head.

♡ big big romantic. big into gift giving. big into getting you flowers. also big into acts of service. did you like the very pretty sourdough loaf she made for you?

♡ she pebbles. the people she cares about will always get something from her. "it made me think of you!"

♡ she can cook. but her specialty while at college is definitely tomato soup and sourdough grilled cheese using her homemade sourdough bread.

♡ big fan of wwe. she loves watching the straights' version of drag brunch. and also because her family were also big fans and they would watch the matches together.

♡ every two weeks, she goes on a day trip to the nearest ethnic grocery store. she gets homesick often and misses her family's food.

♡ part of the latine students union at essex college.

♡ had an intense homoerotic friendship with her best friend in high school and then they drifted apart. that's why she got really emotional when she watched y tu mamá también (2001) for a film class.

♡ unironically thinks showgirls (1995) is a masterpiece. first halloween at essex she was dressing up as nomi. her friend did her makeup for her.

♡ dressed as corky from bound (1996) for halloween.

♡ ash is very proud of her botanical lego collection.

♡ majoring in philosophy. which she does get a lot of flack for in her family. has enough credits for a minor in gender and sexuality studies though.

♡ does not need an outline for her papers. she can just write and she only does an outline if she's required to.

♡ did color guard for marching band when she was in high school. also was part of her high school's gay straight alliance.

[godsandvillains-if]

Gods and Villains is a superhero/horror story set in a dystopian future where Earth is filled to the brim with crime and corruption—a.k.a MCU meets The Boys.

Warning! injury to major characters, gore, body horror, trauma and PTSD, amnesia, death, and sexual content. Rated +18. More specific content warnings will be provided at the start of each chapter.

LINKS

DEMO ✶ PATREON ✶ KO-FI

You take control of a powerful metahuman, an otherwise ordinary human on the outside but who has the meta-gene, a potent mutation deep engraved in their DNA, which gives them superhuman abilities. This next step in human evolution comes with a setback, however, for the curse of madness seems to follow their every step. It lurks in the shadows, patiently waiting for the opportunity to strike—many metahumans fall prey to its alluring promises. 

With a dark and traumatic past filled with untold horrors and inhuman experiments, you are rescued from the clutches of crazy terrorists by a team of heroes that might lend you all the tools you need for redemption or complete self-annihilation. 

As the only metahuman with the ability to wield the powerful Chaos Magic, your very blood holds the answers to unlocking the secrets behind the control of time and space, but it has the drawback of being almost completely volatile. 

Who can you trust to keep you safe other than yourself? Trust no one, and maybe you can get out of this literal hell alive.

Play as male, female, or non-gender specific, along with transgender choices;

Romance one of seven characters, and if your heart is big enough fall in love with two of them. There's three possible poly routes available: Archon and Stardom, Archon and Mars, Paladin and Wildcat;

Customize your appearance, personality and powers;

Struggle against the shackles of madness trying to take hold of your psyche;

Battle a multitude of villains or become one yourself;

Uncover the secrets behind the meta-gene and your abilities;

Help the public fall in love with superheroes or forever destroy that chance;

In total there are seven romance options, each with their own personality, and dark secrets for you to uncover. You can read more about them below:

?

The villain, or anti-hero, whatever you want to call them, Mars is an enigmatic figure; the very concept of life seems to hold no value to them. A trail of bodies follows wherever they go, and on the news, they are regarded as the biggest menace of the century. They will have the unique ability to sway your loyalty. Beware, their sweet words and promises may drip with honey, but they also drip with the blood of their victims.​

Trope: Forbidden love, emotional scars, blood-play

Zev/Zena Hammer

The oldest of the bunch and not a metahuman per se. Hammer acts as the spokesperson for the team, mitigating the often tenuous relationship between humans and the so-called "mutants". As a retired police detective they've learned firsthand how rotten the world can be for the innocent, and they've vowed to protect them at any cost. Their analytical and communication skills will go hand in hand when dealing with various crimes, just as their implants.

Trope: Widow/widower, age gap, don't-call-me-daddy/mommy

Adam/Ada Armstrong

The current leader of the Alliance Team. Headstrong and dauntless, they are regarded as the strongest metahuman in modern times and the most enigmatic of them all, whose past is shrouded in mystery and unknown even to their closest friends. On the outside, they might seem apathetic and unconcerned with human suffering, but their true feelings are hidden beneath layers of deep trauma. Superhuman strength and invulnerability are their greatest assets when fighting villains.

Trope: Nobody thinks it will work, love/hate, fucking-your-boss

Edward/Evelyn Osborne

The former leader of the Alliance Team and Archon's best friend. On the surface, they are the stereotypical showboat: cocky, greedy, and egoistical. Stardom does whatever they can to gain attention, fame, and riches. For them, the best feeling in the world is an adoring fan and a beautiful person fawning over their heroics. The meta-gene gives them a genius-level intellect, which in turn is used to develop several pieces of equipment that are employed by themselves and the team during fights.​

Trope: Billionaire, belated love epiphany, good-people-have-good-sex

Johnny/Johnnie

If Archon's past is shrouded in mystery, Paladin's is drowned in it. For all you know, their name is not even Johnny/Johnnie but an alias of their choosing. They are known to be the silent loner type and are somewhat socially withdrawn from other members of the team, only speaking when called upon to do so. Behind their silver mask, they harbor more than a few inner demons, and together with their superhuman weapon and combat proficiency, they fight for the innocent.​

Trope: Secret identity, oblivious to love, weapon-fetishization

Pedro/Pilar Flores

The youngest of the team, considered by many a lighthearted jokester without any real talent beyond their obvious powers—which set them apart from every human that walks the earth. With their metahuman status so evident for everyone to see, hiding just didn't seem like an option, so they chose the next best alternative. Known to be playful, energetic, and often immature, they are responsible for balancing the team's more serious side, and when someone can take the form of any living being on Earth, the repertoire of pranks is endless.​

Trope: Beauty and the Beast, broken in some way, begging

Doctor Malik/Malika Aziz

The renowned Doctor Aziz, a famed archaeologist and considered to be the most powerful sorcerer, or magic user, in the world. They wear several enchanted artifacts that, in turn, accentuate their already tremendous knowledge of the mystical forces. With an extremely strong moral compass and kind demeanor, they will show themselves to be the best teacher you could ask for, but why do they seem to be everywhere you look?

Trope: Time travel, twin siblings or clones?, teacher-student

[tigerrsmn]

"Say their name!"

Call and response at the Twin Cities vigil for Nex Benedict, organized by Thomas Edison High Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

[It is important to say their name. What’s their name?

(Crowd) Nex Benedict!

Say their name.

(Crowd) Nex Benedict!

Say their name.

(Crowd) Nex Benedict!]