#i'm still further off getting the one who believes in climate change in office and then doing everything i can once they're in office

[duck-in-a-thrift-store]

You know what? Yeah

I mean as a person born, raised, and currently living in the south, I'll admit that I make plenty of these jokes and gripes myself (though I do think if anyone has the right to do so it's those of us who actually live here)

But we can do better

Sure some things about the south suck, that's true, but that doesn't mean the shitheads who happen to be in charge or the louder voices reinforcing negative stereotypes are representative of all of us as a whole- as someone else mentioned in the tags

And who the fuck said we have bad food??? Literally our food is one of the best things we've got going for us?? I didn't even know this was a Take™️ like I thought it was common consensus that southern food is good shit. Side note: I went to NYC last year and don't get me wrong I loved it but yall don't even have sweet tea

I will say that even as someone who's grown up around it there are some southern accents that strike me as funny or even kinda ridiculous, but that's stupid. People talk how they talk, and we should recognize that for what it is- cool and natural and beautiful. If you catch me making fun of how my mom pronounces "oil" please send a well-meaning "fuck you" my way

Anyway, yeah, obviously not all southerners are bigots and rednecks. There is an unfortunate portion that are, but it's not fair to look at us all through the lens of a blanket assumption like that, and it's not like there aren't bad or ignorant people in every part of the US- hell, the world

I mean I personally try my best not to be any sort of bigot, and while I'm sure there are lots of negative (and some rightfully so) connotations with the term "redneck," like... it basically means "unsophisticated rural white American"

Can't speak for anyone else but I myself am a semi-rural white American, and I'm not the most sophisticated, and guess what?

Sometimes it's kinda fun getting up to some redneck tomfoolery, like intertubing down the creek in your backyard in the middle of a rainstorm or having your grandad drag you around in a sled tied to the back of his truck on snow days, or catching and releasing all manner of critters that get into the house (we have relocated so. many. mice.)

Also, our dialect? Top tier. Give me a better all-inclusive group-referential term than "folks." "Yall" is so much more convenient than "you all." And why should I pronounce the "g" at the end of every "-ing" verb? It's unnecessary and awkward, honestly, and we're better off just leavin it out. Now whoever is takin issue with how we talk can catch these motherfuckin hands (lmao I'm an English major just thought I'd put that out there)

And like all that aside, do I still hope to move north someday? Yeah, I do. I'd rather live somewhere with a cooler climate and where people aren't trying to take away my rights (fellow southern trans person here). But that doesn't mean everyone else should be expected to. I'm not trying to escape southern culture, just current southern politics and southern weather. If legislation changed I might not feel the need to do that, but I'd still rather be further from the equator, and that's nothing against the region that's just a personal preference for chillier weather. But moving is not possible for me right now, and for a lot of people it might never be, and even if it is they shouldn't be expected to leave their homes just to have their rights respected and to be treated like human beings

There are queer people in the south. There are leftist people in the south. There are mentally ill people in the south, and there are mental healthcare providers in the south too. Y'know how I know that? Because I'm a mentally ill leftist queer person from Alabama, dude. And I've been to at least three different therapists, one of whom had a bi flag decorating her office. We're not all homophobic ultra-conservative hicks who don't believe in mental health or who worship donald trump like some kind of savior, and we do deserve to be taken seriously and to be welcomed into queer spaces and mental health discussions

If you as an outsider genuinely have this sort of attitude about people who live in the south (the sort of attitude op was talking about), if you look at us all as negative stereotypes instead of actual people, maybe you need to look in a mirror and ask yourself, who's really the bigot here?

yall have got to be more normal about Southern people and I'm not kidding. enough of the Sweet Home Alabama incest jokes, enough of the idea that all Southerners are bigots and rednecks, and enough of the idea that the South has bad food. shut up about "trailer trash" and our accents and our hobbies!

do yall know how fucking nauseating it is to hear people only bring up my state to make jokes about people in poverty and incestuous relationships? how much shame I feel that I wasn't born up north like the Good Queers and Good Leftists with all the Civilised Folk with actual houses instead of small cramped trailers that have paper thin walls that I know won't protect me in a bad enough storm?

do yall know how frustrating it is to be trans in a place that wants to kill you and whenever you bring it up to people they say "well just move out" instead of sympathizing with you or offering help?

do yall understand how alienating it is to see huge masterposts of queer and mental health resources but none of them are in your state because theyre all up north? and nobody seems to want to fix this glaring issue because "they're all hicks anyways"

Southern people deserve better. we deserve to be taken seriously and given a voice in the queer community and the mental health space and leftist talks in general.

[aeryns]

i just think when you’re talking abt politics you have to think abt what your goals are. what’s the endgame. what are your values. and then evaluate what you’re doing and ask if those actions are working to promote those values or not. sitting out an election because neither candidate is ideologically pure (hint: no candidate is, sorry.) isn’t helping your values nearly as much as working to put the candidate in who does believe in your general values and then once they’re in trying to push them more in line with your values.

[itslenagain]

[ Part 1 here / Part 2 here / Part 3 here / Part 4 here / Part 5 here ]

*Content note for non-detailed discussion of miscarriage*

PART 6

The press booth is bursting with reporters vying to ask the President a question.

"Mister President, what are you doing about climate change?"

"Mister President, can you comment on the latest push for more government transparency?"

"Mister President, what are you doing to address the Greek god situation?" At that question, microphones go up quickly, every hand with a pen ready eagerly waiting to take notes.

"I'm doing my best to look into it, we are working tirelessly to investigate the situation, no further comment at this time," he says, stepping away from the podium as the reporters continue to shout questions. Once he has retreated into his car, he turns to his press secretary. "What the hell is *the Greek god situation*?" She shakes her head in exhaustion.

(The first week of September...)

"I've handled the FBI situation," Bev says, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. "We blamed Zeus for the shit on the plane. We've earned enough public sympathy for you that it wasn't hard for them to get on board with it. Hell, I mean honestly, it *really* was his fault, anyways." She smirks at Hera. "I think we've got the best case we can possibly make to help you get a visa to work towards you becoming a legal resident of the US. So that's the next step. It will still likely be an uphill battle, but I can pull strings with people who owe me favors."

"You seem to have so many friends in useful places," Hera says, a sly smile in her eyes. "It must be nice to have these kinds of connections."

"Says the immortal who somehow has an unlimited supply of untraceable cash," Bev laughs back. "I hope you've got that hidden well or our government will tax the shit out of it."

"I figured out in my first few years living in the mortal world that there are many different ways to get the things you want, and why shouldn't I? Go after the things I want, I mean? What is the point of life except to seek pleasure?"

"You know, I really don't know." Bev says. "I don't think I can remember the last time I felt really happy." She pauses. She's said too much. She lets out an awkward laugh.

"You really wanted to be a mother back then."

Bev freezes. Her heart begins to race. "H- how..."

"I'm not just the Goddess of women, you know. I'm also the Goddess of motherhood." Hera's expression softens. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you. I did try. Some things are out of even my power."

Bev feels numb. "I... I don't know what to say."

Hera sighs. "It's ok. I know that what's done is done... But I believe you'll still get the chance, one day, if that's something you still want." Bev cannot form any words. She looks at Hera. Something in her expression feels... comforting.

"I've never talked about it." She swats away a tear. "I just wish I could have held him, or her, or-"

"Her." Hera says gently. At that, Bev feels the floodgates in her heart open. She tries so hard to be stoic. Now, she's sobbing, loud and raw. Hera embraces her. It hurts. But it's okay.

Later on that night, Joanne would listen to the tape in the secret recorder she placed in Bev's office, and cry.

(The next morning...)

Bev walks carefully into her bathroom. She looks at herself in the mirror. Her eyes are puffy and ringed with red. But... she feels lighter.

Kimberly holds Hera's hand on the drive to the embassy. It's quiet in the car. Behind her sunglasses, Joanne has been watching Hera in the rearview mirror the entire drive.

"Are you sure it's safe to be here?" Kimberly asks.

"Persephone sent word that Hades is thoroughly pleased to have a visit from our brother," Hera giggles. "Nobody else in Olympus wants to get involved."

The group arrives at the US Embassy in Athens, Greece.

"So let me get this straight... You're *Hera,* like literally, the *Goddess*. You have no legal records of your existence. No schooling, no skills that don't sound like you ripped off an X-Men movie, and yet, the infamous Bev Jones simply cannot imagine taking literally *anyone else* to be her protégé than you." The immigration representative raises an eyebrow.

Bev leans across the desk. "Listen Alexander, unless you want your wife Evangelia to find out about your mistress Irida and her luxury apartment, which is in *your* name, you're going to help us make this happen." Her shark smile gleams with a newfound glory. He gulps.

Suddenly, the application is stamped, the Visa is being processed, and Hera is employed.

Hera raises a glass of wine to her companions. They've already made quick work of the first 2 bottles. "To Bev, you snake! For hearing me out, for never failing to find another trick, and for making me legal!"

"Just wait until the IRS hears," Kimberly laughs. She raises her glass. "To Bev. You've got a heart under those scales, don't you?" Hera, Bev, and Kimberly roar.

"To Bev," Joanne says, "Who helps other people do things she's too afraid to do for herself." She dumps her glass out on the ground and walks away.

"What's *her* problem?" Kimberly chuckles, feeling all the wine rush to her head. Bev gets up to try and follow her.

"Joanne? What's wrong? Jo!"

Joanne stops. She holds her head in her hands. "Bev, why did you become a divorce lawyer?"

"....I'm good at it," Bev says steadily. "Maybe it wasn't my *dream,* but I made my life with it."

"Remember when you hired me 9 years ago? When you worked in family court?" Joanne turns around. Her mascara is running down her cheeks. "There wasn't as much money, but you used to talk to me, Bev! You used to be a person!"

Bev feels her heart pounding. Her skin feels hot. "Things were different back then."

"I took care of you for MONTHS after you left that hospital and you never said a damn word to me about what happened. You wouldn't eat, you wouldn't sleep, I literally *carried* you to and from the toilet. I did EVERYTHING for you, I still do! You've known these people what, a month?! And you're suddenly just all buddy-buddy with them! I don't trust her as far as I could throw her! God powers be damned!" Her lips quiver, her eyes streaked with tears.

"Joanne... I'm so sorry, Joanne. I just, I don't know!" She shakes her head. "And it's not all on me, you know. You never asked. You didn't have to stay. And you damn sure didn't have to bug my fucking office just to find out!" Joanne shudders. "Yeah, I know about all your bullshit, Jo. Why do you think I keep you at an arms length these days? Cut the shit and just fucking tell me what your problem is!"

"I LOVE YOU, BEV!" Joanne screeches. "I love you and I want you and you're still married to your stupid fucking husband who left you bleeding at a hospital on your anniversary! You're a DIVORCE LAWYER. LEAVE HIM!" She collapses. "Stop lying to yourself! Stop shutting me out! Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved!"

Bev stands, staring. Joanne's eyes grow wide. "Bev... Bev, please don't walk away. Bev. I need you, Bev." Bev takes a step backwards. "No, please..."

"Joanne, I..." Bev can't find the words. She feels like a figure inside a snow globe; no way out, no way to let anyone else in, a spectacle for everyone to shake and gawk at.

Joanne stands up and walks away.

"....fuck. FUCK!" Bev swears. This is not good.

Hera and Kimberly, having heard the whole argument, sandwich Bev between them in a hug.

[ Next ]

You are a divorce lawyer, the best in your field. You have just received word that you will representing the Greek goddess Hera in her divorce from Zeus.