#in light of US politics

[orchidbutch]

USA Progressive Faith Communities

If you have ever thought about finding a progressive faith community, now is a great time! I know many people are afraid and grieving in light of the US election, as well as preparing to take action, and this includes people of faith. Even if church or faith isn't your jam, it's a good idea to be aware of what's in your area & identify potential allies for positive change.

First, I'll highlight Unitarian Universalism (note the UUA website's social justice tab), mostly because they don't have a creed or require belief in a god or the afterlife. Instead, they are more geared towards community, guided by their seven principles and seven values centered on love.

They've got a strong history of social justice work, and depending on state, some even have state-wide social justice ministries (in the South: FL, TX, SC, GA.) Congregations may vary and can skew white and older, but there tends to be a commitment to racial justice, LGBTQIA rights, and reproductive justice.

Other UU links:

Side with Love (advocacy)

Pink Haven (resource for trans relocation and more)

Church of the Wider Fellowship - if you don't have UUs in your area or cannot leave your home, this is an option!

If you're a Christian or only have Christian churches in your area, here's some to look for:

UCC, United Church of Christ (link for finding affirming LGBTQ+ affirming UCC congregations)

Episcopal church (Human Rights and Peacebuilding page)

United Methodist (note: they had a schism over LGBTQ+ rights, see also their social justice page.)

PCUSA Presbyterians (Denomination Website, note that the "How We Serve + Advocacy & Social Justice" goes to Presbyterian Mission Agency page)

ECLA for Lutherans (link to their Faith and Society page)

MCC - Metrocrest community church, literally founded by a gay man! (Visitor Page, what we believe)

I'd recommend doing a quick google search in your area, if you see one of the above, check their website & FB page. This should give you a taste of what they're like. If you don't feel comfortable walking in on the day of a service, check to see if they stream online or have past sermons on their website. Emailing them is also an option if you're not sure what their stances are on social justice issues.

This is by no means an exhaustive list! I am more familiar with LGBTQIA-affirming churches, which both tend to be white where I am. Please add additional resources you know of or tips for finding a social justice oriented faith community of any kind.

Tagging some people who might have resources or know people who do:

@and-her-saints @our-queer-experience @hillbillyoracle @queerprayers @queerorthodoxy

[itsbansheebitch]

Rants at the Hairdresser

her, behind me trimming my hair: "it's so wild how big cars are. Seems a bit dangerous, ya know?"

me, enjoying the smell of the stuff she sprayed in my hair: "Yeah, apparently that's because it's cheaper to have a car classified as a 'light truck' since you can get past safety regulations and they have different frames."

her, who has paused working on my hair: "Wait, are you serious?"

me: "Yeah, apparently it's a lot cheaper for companies to do that. And it really sucks since driving one of those cars is super dangerous, but it's even more dangerous for other people, especially if they're in a smaller car. Since it would be more safe to be another driver if they ALSO have a 'light truck,' everyone is caught in a cycle of getting bigger and bigger cars. All of which are extremely dangerous and have made being a pedestrian even more dangerous."

her: deep in thought, silent.

me, happy that someone is letting me rant about this: "Oh, the new Cadillacs are the size of tanks. That's not an exaggeration, by the way."

her, stunned: ???? "what the actual hell???"

we're silent for a bit

her, hesitantly, since I look like white trash and she has at least 10 piercings and pink hair: "I feel like America has been that way for a while... ya know?"

me: "Oh yeah, I totally get what you're saying, like, putting profit over people's safety?"

her, assured now that she knows we're both too commie pilled for this kind of conversation with someone else: "Yes! Exactly! It really sucks, right?"

me: "God, tell me about it"

I was very happy with my haircut, btw. She's so good at her job. :D

[lassieposting]

Yes, I am an ardent hater of today's "if you feel powerless, don't forget that you can donate :))) even though you can barely feed yourself :)))" culture, where the average person has no power or agency to fight for what they believe in beyond stumping up cash.

Yes, I am going to remind y'all anyway that the American Civil Liberties Union is there to fight for your rights and they could use your support if you have any to spare. If you subscribe to their newsletter they send you regular updates on what they're doing to fight Drumpf and his force of fascist fuckwits.

[bixels]

I'm not explaining why re-imagining characters as POC is not the same as white-washing, here of all places should fucking understand.

[crustaceousfaggot]

Honestly I think being a high school teacher is one of the biggest possible green flags for a politician. Being able to explain politics to little idiots who don't care is useful practice for a job explaining politics to big idiots who don't care.

[corviiids]

i think L should've tried harder to piss light off. provoking light into slipping up would not only be hilarious i also think it would be extremely easy and effective. not saying you could get light to actually confess this way, but he would definitely make more dumb mistakes if, for example, L kept interrupting their homoerotic brain chess matches to insist that kira is actually matsuda because the butts match

[painted-doe]

Back in 2016, we adopted a system in our house for discussing distressing political news that I highly recommend. We basically use the traffic light consent system to check in with each other’s mental state before we bring up a news topic.

Me: (just saw a news story that I am dying to share) “How’s your traffic light for politics right now?”

Red: Nope, can’t take any political discussion right now, but maybe we can talk about it later. (Red usually also gets you a hug and a kiss and a check-in on your stress levels.)

Yellow: Go ahead if it’s minor political news. Maybe hold back if it’s very distressing or about something hateful. I may want you to shut things down if it’s too depressing or infuriating, but I will communicate if it gets that bad.

Green: *stuffing popcorn in mouth* Sure, hit me, what has that bastard done now?

This system has saved us both much frustration with each other. It makes it easy to gently shut a conversation down without making anyone feel rejected or overwhelmed because you both understood each other’s limits and desires going into the conversation.

You can also adopt it for other topics that cause you anxiety, like family drama. And it’s extremely useful for setting boundaries with neurodivergent loved ones who may not pick up on social cues as easily as others.

I hope it helps someone out there protect their peace!

[thebanishedreader]

Oh, what the hell, Florida.

Heyyy so I just looked at my spreadsheet of banned books and...

There are 1,402 BANNED BOOKS in the state of Florida ALONE.

To put that in perspective, on that very same spreadsheet, the number of banned books in California is: one (1).

If you guys have been following this (very new) blog and my posts, then you will know that the number of banned books in Colorado is: eight (8).

In Arkansas, it's four (4).

So. Just to reiterate, to repeat.

As of June 2023,

THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BANNED 1,402 BOOKS.

NEARLY HALF OF ALL BANNED BOOKS THIS YEAR, AND NEARLY THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF BANNED BOOKS IN 2022 IN TOTAL.

FLORIDA. HAS. BANNED. 1,402. BOOKS.

Please read banned books. Support libraries. Support authors. And please, please please please please, for the love of everything, stay safe. I love each and every one of you. Stay safe.

Support the American Library Association here.

[lyculuscaelus]

Polites, to Odysseus: Let me be your light!

Polites gets killed by Polyphemus

Odysseus to Polyphemus: I am your darkest moment!

Because he has just lost his light.

[luvlowrise]

the fact that trump plans to get rid of the department of education pains me and makes me wonder how I’ll be able to afford continuing my education because I’m where I’m at because of financial aid that’s being provided by the government. I depend on the Pell grant I have and other aid to go to my school and be in my sorority and have housing. I fear what will happen if I I ever don’t receive the aid I currently have. Will what I have be stripped away from me? Will I even be able to afford to have a higher education?

[python-nebula]

To all my trans siblings in the US today, I’m sending all my love and holding you all in the light

[infamous-empire]

Watching the real-time election results while doomscrolling politics tags is probably the most actively stressful thing I could conceivably do, and yet I’m doing it anyway

[revivivivify]

this too shall pass. like a fucking kidney stone but you get it

[evan-buck]

me seeing all the red states count first:

me about the whole election the second a state goes blue:

me at 4am (GMT):

me waking up in the morning (optimistic):

me waking up in the morning (it's all going to superhell):

[196794]

first meeting