#itskindofme

[itskindofareallyniceday]

Something new for Native American Heritage Month this year:

This playlist features indigenous musicians from North, Central, and South America. It includes a variety of genres (post-classical composers, folk punk, indie pop, pow wow punk rock (yes, that's a thing!), indie rock, etc.), as well as a variety of languages (Wolastoqey, Inuktitut, Atikamekw, Cherokee, Navajo, Cree, Quechua, Greenlandic (Kalaallisut), Tłı̨chǫ, English, French, and Spanish).

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I normally post craft-related stuff on Reddit, but since I’m not using that rn, I guess I’ll put this here.

It’s supposed to look like the chameleon from “A Color of His Own”

But I kind of gave up 😂 (it’s only my second 3D felting project. I think I prefer 2D, lol)

The story is about a chameleon who is obviously (and unhappily) different from all of the other creatures. He eventually meets another chameleon, who is different in the same way. They become their own tiny community, and find belonging in each other.

I’m giving this chameleon to my friend/co-teacher, who is also a trans guy. I’ve always felt like he was my other chameleon, and I’m always very aware of those feelings every time I read this book (which is kind of a lot, since we’re preschool teachers, lol).

Something kind of traumatic happened when we went to a pride parade last weekend, but he was there for me and kept me safe. So I just wanted to do something to let him know that I appreciate him.

[itskindofareallyniceday]

Trans Resources/Info Masterpost

I dedicate a lot of time to helping fellow trans men, answering their questions, etc. and I've noticed a few very common questions in every trans group I'm a member of. I want the information within these resources to become common knowledge in our community. This information has been extremely helpful to me, my friends, and/or other people in the community, and they're things that everyone should be aware of...

Changing your name and/or gender marker: -The National Center for Transgender Equality will tell you exactly how to change your name and/or gender marker in each state.

HRT: -This map shows organizations that offer HRT following the informed consent method. -Testosterone HRT changes and timelines: source 1, source 2 -Testosterone myths -Bottom growth info (CW: this resource contains illustrations of the anatomy that will grow, before and after growth)

Injections/Syringes: -Syringes and needles can be annoying to buy at the pharmacy. Before I started buying in bulk, I had to go from pharmacy to pharmacy searching for ones that were the right size (they always ran out or didn't buy enough or something). This is a problem that many people experience, so a lot of us buy our medical supplies in bulk online. It's cheaper, easier, and you never have to worry about the pharmacy running out of your syringes. Here are a few popular websites that people buy syringes from: allegromedical.com, westendmedicalsupplies.com, bulksyringes.com, healthykin.com, https://www.vitalitymedical.com, https://www.gpzmedlab.com, etc. -Trans Needle Exchange is currently on hiatus, but they provide needles/syringes to people who can't afford/access them for free. -Search relevant subreddits for more, if those websites don't meet your needs.

Surgery: -topsurgery.net has the answer to almost any top surgery question you might have (the process, finding a surgeon, insurance, before and after pictures, etc.) -There are top surgery grants that you might qualify for. -The GALAP (Gender Affirming Letter Access Project) is a group of independent medical professionals dedicated to providing free letters of support to people seeking gender affirming surgeries. Make sure these medical professionals meet the requirements of your insurance/surgeon though, since they all have different requirements. -Plume also provides letters of support for gender affirming surgeries. Letters are included for members, but they can also be provided to non-members for $150 and one appointment. (Note: they are provided by a medical professional, not a behavioral health or mental health professional. Each insurance has different requirements about who the letter needs to be written by) -The Gender Confirmation Center has a lot of information about gender affirming surgeries, how to take care of yourself before/during/after surgery, a huge gallery of before and after pictures for different incision types, etc. -T4T Caregiving is a group of "traveling trans caregivers for all of your post-op needs". I know how hard it is for some people to find someone who is willing to take care of them after surgery. The caregivers at T4T Caregiving will provide you with care 24/7, with prices on a sliding scale that ranges from $150-250 per day. -You can find information about different surgeons here (top surgery - search by location, whether they accept informed consent, insurance, etc.) and here (several different kinds of surgeries - search by procedure, location, insurance, etc.)

WPATH's Standards of Care: -It's also a good idea to be familiar with the WPATH's (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Standards of Care! Here is the most recent version, SOC8

Other: -Refuge Restrooms is a database of gender neutral bathroom locations. You can search for, add, and rate different locations.

Unfortunately, a lot of this information is only applicable to trans men (or AFAB NB people wishing to transition) in the US. That's what I have the most experience with (and knowledge about), as I'm a trans man in the US. Feel free to add your own favorite resources (especially for trans women) if you want!

[itskindofareallyniceday]

Update: 90 new books

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, and due to the requests I've received over the years, I've compiled a list of great books written by indigenous authors from all over the Americas.

Part 1, North America:

Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Magical Realism/Mythology/Dystopia: “Elatsoe” by Darcie Little Badger (Lipan Apache) “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice (Anishinaabe) "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline (Georgian Bay Métis) "Son of a Trickster" by Eden Robinson (Haisla and Heiltsuk) “The Removed” by Brandon Hobson (Cherokee)

Nonfiction/Memoir/Essays: “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants” by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi) "A History of My Brief Body" by Billy-Ray Belcourt (Driftpile Cree) “A Mind Spread Out on the Ground” by Alicia Elliott (Haudenosaunee) "An American Sunrise" by Joy Harjo (Muscogee) “Dog Flowers: A Memoir” by Danielle Geller "Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City" by Tanya Talaga (Anishinaabe) "The Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save Our Earth" by The Red Nation “Heart Berries” by Terese Marie Mailhot (Nlaka'pamux)

Contemporary/Fiction/Historical Fiction: “Indian Horse” and “Medicine Walk” by Richard Wagamese (Ojibwe) “Jonny Appleseed” by Joshua Whitehead (Oji-Cree, Peguis First Nation) “There There” by Tommy Orange (Cheyanne and Arapho) “The Break” by Katherena Vermette (Red River Métis) “Five Little Indians” by Michelle Good (Red Pheasant Cree Nation) “The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson (Mdewakanton Oyate, Rosebud Sioux) “Birdie” by Tracey Lindberg (Cree-Métis, As'in'i'wa'chi Ni'yaw Nation Rocky Mountain Cree)

Mystery/Thriller/Horror/Paranormal: “The Only Good Indians” by Stephen Graham Jones (Blackfeet) “Winter Counts” by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Sicangu Lakota) “Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley (Chippewa) "Empire of Wild" by Cherie Dimaline (Georgian Bay Métis Nation)

Poetry Collections: "Islands of Decolonial Love: Stories and Songs" and "This Accident of Being Lost: Songs and Stories" by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Mississauga Nishnaabeg) "Split Tooth" by Tanya Tagaq (Inuk) “Postcolonial Love Poem” by Natalie Díaz (Akimel O'odham) "Nature Poem" by Tommy Pico (Kumeyaay, Viejas Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians) "Disintegrate/Dissociate" by Arielle Twist (Cree, George Gordon First Nation)

Anthologies: “Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction”, contributed to by Joshua Whitehead, David Alexander Robertson, Darcie Little Badger, Nathan Adler, Gwen Benaway, Nazbah Tom, Gabriel Castilloux Calderón, and Kai Minosh Pyle "This Place: 150 Years Retold" (comic, nonfiction), contributed to by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Chelsea Vowel, Katherena Vermette, Jen Storm, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, David Alexander Robertson, Richard Van Camp, Brandon Mitchell, Sonny Assu, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Alicia Elliott, and illustrated by G.M.B. Chomichuk, Scott B. Henderson, Tara Audibert, Natasha Donovan, Kyle Charles, Scott A. Ford, Donovan Yaciuk, Andrew Lodwick, Ryan Howe “Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection, Volume 1”, contributed to by Hope Nicholson, Michael Sheyahshe, David W. Mack, David Alexander Robertson, Haiwei Hou, Dayton Edmonds, Micah Farritor, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Menton3, Arigon Starr, David Cutler, Elizabeth LaPensée, G.M.B. Chomichuk, George Freeman, Tony Romito, Jeremy D. Mohler, Ian Ross, Lovern Kindzierski, Adam Gorham, Richard Van Camp, Nicholas Burns, Todd Houseman, Ben Shannon, Jay Odjick, Joel Odjick, Claude St. Aubin, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Andy Stanleigh

More: New books that I haven't read/heard enough about to recommend yet

Part 2: Central & South America

[itskindofareallyniceday]

Booty shorts that say this

[itskindofareallyniceday]

Penguin as penguins…

Little Blue (Fairy) Penguin:

Magellanic Penguin:

Humboldt Penguin:

Macaroni, Erect-Crested, Southern Rockhopper, Northern Rockhopper, Snares, and Fiordland Penguins:

African Penguin:

Yellow-Eyed Penguin (molting):

Galapagos Penguin:

Chinstrap Penguin (chick):

Adelie, Gentoo (chicks), and White-Flippered Penguins:

King, Emperor, and Royal Penguins:

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You've heard of T4T, now get ready for...

[itskindofareallyniceday]

What if… 😳 we were both pirates 🏴‍☠️… and we were gay... and we kissed 😳... on our pirate ship 👉👈 haha, jk… unless…?

[itskindofareallyniceday]

Maybe the slug isn't homophobic, nor is he having a moment of gay realization.

Maybe the slug represents apprehension. He knows that he'll be disappointed soon. He knows that many of these moments he's reacting to may soon be "invalidated" by a "no homo", "I love you... like a brother", or even death. The slug is tired of queerbaiting... Exhausted.

Maybe I am the slug.

[itskindofareallyniceday]

My favorite thing about superhero comics is that characters and stories can be reinvented every time a new author tells the story. Everything is canon within itself, even if it’s not the most widely accepted “true” story. You, the readers, get to decide what's "canon" (or “the most canon”).

I think that comic books can remind us of something very important: it’s all fiction. All fiction is equally unreal. The fiction within your stories can be just as “real” (or meaningful) as the fiction in any other stories… because none of them are actually real anyway. And that’s fine! That’s good! You’re allowed/encouraged to reinvent! Reimagine!

[itskindofareallyniceday]

Respectfully waiting for Starkid to make a gay pirate musical...

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Geralt "French Girl" of Rivia

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Since everyone seems to be in their pirate era, I thought I would share one of my favorite pirate stories (TW: short description of gore):

Sadie Farrell was a river pirate who was active in the late 1860s. She started her career as a thief in New York, where she earned the nickname Sadie The Goat by head-butting her victims in the stomach.

Sadie the Goat had a long-running feud with a bouncer, Gallus Mag, who was known for biting people's ears off. In The Gangs of New York, Herbert Asbury wrote, "It was [Gallus Mag's] custom, after she'd felled an obstreperous customer with her club, to clutch his ear between her teeth and drag him to the door, amid the frenzied cheers of the onlookers. If her victim protested, she bit his ear off, and having cast the fellow into the street, she carefully deposited the detached member in a jar of alcohol behind the bar…. She was one of the most feared denizens on the waterfront and the police of the period shudderingly described her as the most savage female they'd ever encountered."

During a brawl with Gallus Mag, Sadie's ear was bitten off. Gallus kept the trophy and pickled it. After the fight, Sadie assembled a gang, stole a sloop (a kind of sailboat), left Manhattan, and began her new life as a pirate.

Sadie and her new gang of pirates attacked ships on the Hudson and Harlem rivers, robbed mansions/farm houses, raided villages, and occasionally kidnapped people for ransom. However, the farmers soon started defending themselves by firing at Sadie's sloop, making it impossible to approach them.

Sadie the Goat returned home and made up with Gallus Mag, who "graciously returned" the pickled ear, which Sadie placed inside a locket and wore around her neck for the rest of her life.

[itskindofareallyniceday]

“Homer and His Guide” - Adolphe Bougeureau