#peer advocacy

[hussyknee]

Narmada and her sister Sharika are the daughters of prominent Tamil feminist and human rights activist Rajini Thiranagama, who was murdered when they were children. Every time they speak of her I move away from grief that her life was so brutally cut short, to joy that she spent those years living a life more full of light and love than many can fit into a hundred. Nothing can compare to the legacy of being remembered this way by your children.

[thotsfortherapy]

today was such a day

[badolmen]

‘They may start to send threatening emails’ lucky for you I have a permanent autism status effect that renders me immune to all verbal or written threats because I assume they are confused/the message is not intended for me. Not to mention I survived anon hate and harassment on tumblr dot com; the university’s union-busting intimidation tactics have no power over me - they won’t even send death threats.

[dynamichealthinsights]

How to Advocate for Autism-Friendly Policies in Schools

Advocating for autism-friendly policies in schools is more than just a mission to make education inclusive; it’s about fundamentally transforming learning environments so that every child, regardless of neurodiversity, can thrive. The importance of inclusive education has gained significant recognition, yet the real change still depends on grassroots advocacy, where parents, educators, and…

[dgspeaks]

Reflections from the Future of Mental Health Conference: Insights for Everyday Wellness

Attending the Future of Mental Health Conference was a truly inspiring and transformative experience. As someone passionate about mental wellness, I found the exchange of ideas and cutting-edge approaches both enlightening and invigorating. Here are some key insights and reflections from the conference, along with practical advice for everyone interested in mental health. Embracing Innovation…

[why-animals-do-the-thing]

average United States contains 1000s of pet tigers in backyards" factoid actualy [sic] just statistical error. average person has 0 tigers on property. Activist Georg, who lives the U.S. Capitol & makes up over 10,000 each day, has purposefully been spreading disinformation adn [sic] should not have been counted

I have a big mad today, folks. It's a really frustrating one, because years worth of work has been validated... but the reason for that fucking sucks.

For almost a decade, I've been trying to fact-check the claim that there "are 10,000 to 20,000 pet tigers/big cats in backyards in the United States." I talked to zoo, sanctuary, and private cat people; I looked at legislation, regulation, attack/death/escape incident rates; I read everything I could get my hands on. None of it made sense. None of it lined up. I couldn't find data supporting anything like the population of pet cats being alleged to exist. Some of you might remember the series I published on those findings from 2018 or so under the hashtag #CrouchingTigerHiddenData. I've continued to work on it in the six years since, including publishing a peer reviewed study that counted all the non-pet big cats in the US (because even though they're regulated, apparently nobody bothered to keep track of those either).

I spent years of my life obsessing over that statistic because it was being used to push for new federal legislation that, while well intentioned, contained language that would, and has, created real problems for ethical facilities that have big cats. I wrote a comprehensive - 35 page! - analysis of the issues with the then-current version of the Big Cat Public Safety Act in 2020. When the bill was first introduced to Congress in 2013, a lot of groups promoted it by fear mongering: there's so many pet tigers! they could be hidden around every corner! they could escape and attack you! they could come out of nowhere and eat your children!! Tiger King exposed the masses to the idea of "thousands of abused backyard big cats": as a result the messaging around the bill shifted to being welfare-focused, and the law passed in 2022.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act created a registry, and anyone who owned a private cat and wanted to keep it had to join. If they did, they could keep the animal until it passed, as long as they followed certain strictures (no getting more, no public contact, etc). Don’t register and get caught? Cat is seized and major punishment for you. Registering is therefore highly incentivized. That registry closed in June of 2023, and you can now get that registration data via a Freedom of Information Act request.

Guess how many pet big cats were registered in the whole country?

97.

Not tens of thousands. Not thousands. Not even triple digits. 97.

And that isn't even the right number! Ten USDA licensed facilities registered erroneously. That accounts for 55 of 97 animals. Which leaves us with 42 pet big cats, of all species, in the entire country.

Now, I know that not everyone may have registered. There's probably someone living deep in the woods somewhere with their illegal pet cougar, and there's been at least one random person in Texas arrested for trying to sell a cub since the law passed. But - and here's the big thing - even if there are ten times as many hidden cats than people who registered them - that's nowhere near ten thousand animals. Obviously, I had some questions.

Guess what? Turns out, this is because it was never real. That huge number never had data behind it, wasn't likely to be accurate, and the advocacy groups using that statistic to fearmonger and drive their agenda knew it... and didn't see a problem with that.

Allow me to introduce you to an article published last week.

This article is good. (Full disclose, I'm quoted in it). It's comprehensive and fairly written, and they did their due diligence reporting and fact-checking the piece. They talked to a lot of people on all sides of the story.

But thing that really gets me?

Multiple representatives from major advocacy organizations who worked on the Big Cat Publix Safety Act told the reporter that they knew the statistics they were quoting weren't real. And that they don't care. The end justifies the means, the good guys won over the bad guys, that's just how lobbying works after all. They're so blase about it, it makes my stomach hurt. Let me pull some excerpts from the quotes.

"Whatever the true number, nearly everyone in the debate acknowledges a disparity between the actual census and the figures cited by lawmakers. “The 20,000 number is not real,” said Bill Nimmo, founder of Tigers in America. (...) For his part, Nimmo at Tigers in America sees the exaggerated figure as part of the political process. Prior to the passage of the bill, he said, businesses that exhibited and bred big cats juiced the numbers, too. (...) “I’m not justifying the hyperbolic 20,000,” Nimmo said. “In the world of comparing hyperbole, the good guys won this one.”

"Michelle Sinnott, director and counsel for captive animal law enforcement at the PETA Foundation, emphasized that the law accomplished what it was set out to do. (...) Specific numbers are not what really matter, she said: “Whether there’s one big cat in a private home or whether there’s 10,000 big cats in a private home, the underlying problem of industry is still there.”"

I have no problem with a law ending the private ownership of big cats, and with ending cub petting practices. What I do have a problem with is that these organizations purposefully spread disinformation for years in order to push for it. By their own admission, they repeatedly and intentionally promoted false statistics within Congress. For a decade.

No wonder it never made sense. No wonder no matter where I looked, I couldn't figure out how any of these groups got those numbers, why there was never any data to back any of the claims up, why everything I learned seemed to actively contradict it. It was never real. These people decided the truth didn't matter. They knew they had no proof, couldn't verify their shocking numbers... and they decided that was fine, if it achieved the end they wanted.

So members of the public - probably like you, reading this - and legislators who care about big cats and want to see legislation exist to protect them? They got played, got fed false information through a TV show designed to tug at heartstrings, and it got a law through Congress that's causing real problems for ethical captive big cat management. The 20,000 pet cat number was too sexy - too much of a crisis - for anyone to want to look past it and check that the language of the law wouldn't mess things up up for good zoos and sanctuaries. Whoops! At least the "bad guys" lost, right? (The problems are covered somewhat in the article linked, and I'll go into more details in a future post. You can also read my analysis from 2020, linked up top.)

Now, I know. Something something something facts don't matter this much in our post-truth era, stop caring so much, that's just how politics work, etc. I’m sorry, but no. Absolutely not.

Laws that will impact the welfare of living animals must be crafted carefully, thoughtfully, and precisely in order to ensure they achieve their goals without accidental negative impacts. We have a duty of care to ensure that. And in this case, the law also impacts reservoir populations for critically endangered species! We can't get those back if we mess them up. So maybe, just maybe, if legislators hadn't been so focused on all those alleged pet cats, the bill could have been written narrowly and precisely.

But the minutiae of regulatory impacts aren't sexy, and tiger abuse and TV shows about terrible people are. We all got misled, and now we're here, and the animals in good facilities are already paying for it.

I don't have a conclusion. I'm just mad. The public deserves to know the truth about animal legislation they're voting for, and I hope we all call on our legislators in the future to be far more critical of the data they get fed.

[pwrn51]

Redefining Mental Health Care Stigma

    Betsy’s guest today is Margaret M. Catagnus,  author renowned for “FEEL IT, HEAL IT, LET IT GO,” a compilation of inspirational works targeting the triumph over mental health obstacles. Margaret holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with specializations in psychology, sociology, and special education. With extensive experience as a Case Manager, Certified Peer Support Specialist, and…

[lightning-system]

As a medium/lower support needs autistic who works with young higher support needs autistic:

We all matter. We all have the same diagnosis. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

But we are not the same.

I can mask and might be seen as 'odd' or 'weird' in public. The students I work with are seen as 'dangerous' and 'practically little kids'.

I can go to university and work with accommodations. The students I work with likely will never live independently and a few might find jobs that support them but still pay them less than an abled worker.

I have full control of my finances. The students I work with aren't allowed to make independent financial decisions, even if capable.

If I say 'no,' I'm making a choice. The students I work with can't say 'no' without being labeled as defiant and difficult.

I can feed myself, bathe myself, and take care of myself with extreme challenges. The students I work with are unable to take care of themselves without high levels of support/one on one support.

I had an IEP in high school but was mainstreamed in classes. The students I work with take separate classes and some rarely get to interact with their abled peers.

Our experiences are fundamentally different. Higher support needs autistics will experience a specific type of ableism I never will, and can never fully understand.

Lower support needs autistics need to stop saying we understand what higher support needs autistics are going through and then present autism as only being disabling because of society/lack of acceptance because that is dangerous. We need to stop saying every autistic person is capable of everything if given the right support because that leaves out huge parts of our community who will never be able to do certain things, regardless of support.

We are worthy of existence regardless of our abilities.

Autism is a spectrum. It is not the same for every autistic person. Autism acceptance and advocacy has to come with accepting, acknowledging, and listening to our higher support needs peers.

[communityhouse-caswell]

Peer Recovery is a strength-based mode of getting better. This is a big difference from older styles based on analysis about what’s wrong with us.

Peer based movements stem from self-advocacy and tend to be self-empowering. Nobody is a better expert on you than yourself.

[bestrongglobal]

February 2023 Student of the Month: 9 Year-old Joe Takes on New York State

February 2023 Student of the Month: 9 Year-old Joe Takes on New York State

Meet Student State Representative Joe, Be Strong’s February 2023 Student of the Month! “I want to see a change for kids and all people to feel like they matter, are part of the community, and are accepted no matter what.” Though he’s young, this Be Strong Student State Representative from New York has both the intellect and compassion of someone well beyond his age. At just nine years old, he’s…

[vaspider]

Measure 110, or the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

So if y'all aren't local to Oregon, you may not have heard that the Oregon state legislature just voted to -- essentially -- gut Measure 110, the ballot measure which decriminalized all drug possession and use in the state. It turned all drug use into a citation instead, and the citation and fine could be waived by completing a health screening. The entire point of Measure 110 was replacing jail with health care and services to help people instead, and while I could probably write a very long side post on the imperfections of that approach, it was at the very least a move in the right direction after decades of the pathetic failure and absolutely racist mess that is the "War on Drugs."

You may hear this pointed to in coming years as a reason why we have to just throw people into jail for using drugs, because Measure 110 failed. And like... it did fail, kinda. Sorta. It failed in that it did not manage to fix everything immediately, and it created some new issues while also exposing older issues more sharply.

It also saved the state $40 million in court costs prosecuting low-level drug offenses, kept thousands of people whose literal only crime was putting a substance into the body of a consenting adult (themselves) out of jail, put at least one addiction services center in every county in the state, invested $300 million in addiction services, and an awful lot more. See the end of this post for more reading.

But where it failed, it failed because it wasn't supported. Police and advocacy groups both asked for specific tickets for this new class of offenses which had the phone number to call to go through the health screening and the information about how going through that health screening would make the ticket go away printed on it prominently - lawmakers declined to fund this. Governor Kotek budgeted $50K to train officers on how to handle these new citations and how to direct people to the treatment and housing supports, but lawmakers thought that training officers on this new law at all was a waste of money. Money moved extremely slowly out to the supports that were supposed to come into play to help people obtain treatment or get access to harm-reduction strategies. People freaked the fuck out about clean-needle outreach, fentanyl testing strip distribution, Narcan training, and other harm-reduction strategies.

And at the end of the day, Measure 110 gets called a failure because it wasn't a silver bullet. Never mind that thousands of people are not sitting in jail right now for basically no fucking reason. Never mind that people have gotten treatment, harm has been reduced, overdoses have been prevented...

So, yeah. You'll probably start hearing this trotted out as proof that, well, we triiiied decriminalizing drugs, but look what happened in Portland! Well, what happened in Oregon is that we got set up to fail, and still didn't fail, just didn't totally succeed.

Measure 110 highlights, quoted directly from Prison Policy Initiative:

The Oregon Health Authority reported a 298% increase in people seeking screening for substance use disorders.

More than 370,000 naloxone doses have been distributed since 2022, and community organizations report more than 7,500 opioid overdose reversals since 2020.

Although overdose rates have increased around the country as more fentanyl has entered the drug supply, Oregon’s increase in overdoses has been similar to other states’ and actually less than neighboring Washington’s. A peer-reviewed study comparing overdose rates in Oregon with the rest of the country after the law went into effect found no link between Measure 110 and increased overdose rates.

There is no evidence that drug use rates in Oregon have increased. A cross-sectional survey of people who use drugs across eight counties in Oregon found that most had been using drugs for years; only 1.5% reported having started after Measure 110 went into effect.

There has been no increase in 911 calls in Oregon cities after Measure 110.

Measure 110 saves Oregonians millions. Oregon is expected to save $37 million between 2023-2025 if Measure 110 continues. This is because it costs up to $35,217 to arrest, adjudicate, incarcerate, and supervise a person taken into custody for a drug misdemeanor — and upwards of $60,000 for a felony. In contrast, treatment costs an average of $9,000 per person. The money saved by Measure 110 goes directly to state funding for addiction and recovery services.

There is no evidence that Measure 110 was associated with a rise in crime. In fact, crime in Oregon was 14% lower in 2023 than it was in 2020.

Further reading/sources:

[doberbutts]

Things you may have missed:

>had top surgery scheduled March 12th

>top surgery cancelled literally the day of because my insurance rejected my therapist letter the day prior. surgeon refused to take any steps towards patient advocacy.

>top surgery re-scheduled to June 21st

>top surgery cancelled literally 3 days prior due to the same fucking shit even though I followed the instructions the insurance told me to to a T. surgeon again refused to file for an appeal or request a peer-to-peer. told me just to do what insurance said. I asked why insurance was not following the WPATH guidelines. was not given an answer.

>had a consult with a different surgeon today.

>oh my fucking god what a difference. I told him about the fuckery and he was absolutely flabberghasted and told me he'd never even heard of a doctor who would not allow their patient their right to an appeal of an insurance decision, especially knowing that many times insurances will authorize once the doctor yells at them about it. I also found his bedside manner to be much better and he was much easier to work with for projected outcomes

>tentatively looking at some time in November. Maybe for my 32nd birthday I'll give myself the gift of No Tits

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

whether you like Autism Parents or not… whether you hate all parents & caregivers of autistic people or just “Autism Parents” & however you tell apart parents of autistic people & Autism Parents TM or if you verbally say there difference but treat everyone as Autism Parents… or whether you actually follow your distinction.

need realize that… there autistic people that rely on parents n caregivers.

autistic infants toddlers children n adolescents who parents still get final say in much of their life—what therapy they get or not get, what resource, what help.

autistic adults under guardianship & conservatorship.

autistic people who rely on parents n caregiver for daily bADLs care. medical care. who parents control finances.

autistic people who not have intellectual n cognitive ability understand complex or basic things.

autistic people without functional communication, either for now or ever for rest of life, who literally not have way have voice heard in autism community despite yes, many behavior is communication, but you try only use behaviors to have all thoughts fully heard in community. those whose caregivers n parents may be closest “communication translator” they got because everyone else not understand their communication.

n some of them parents. do bad ableist things some of them do lot of them n cannot be excused.

but if you see self as autism advocate, if you claim be one, you need to be able engage with parents & caregivers of autistic people in some meaningful way that’s not just… angry rant at them attack accuse be ableist dogpile

or else you not advocate for all autistic people… just people who can have distance between self & parents caregiver etc.

don’t deny some of them ableist as fuck. n don’t deny that it often triggering as fuck. but. need remember your advocacy. purpose is to help ALL autistic people. n an vulnerable autistic person (often more vulnerable than you) exist behind that parent or caregiver. will your highly emotional very triggered reactional fight with a parent in comment section help the autistic person under their care. or are you just, using them parents to release your own emotions & trauma—at best not improve life of autistic person under their care (let’s hope it that way). worse, negatively impacting them.

there autistic people then there autistic advocates. advocacy is choice. is deliberate action. is work. have consequences. you may be able take on negative consequences but can other people you claim advocating for?

you as autistic person underneath. feel whatever emotion you feel. talk about them rant about them process it in whatever way… journal about it tell friend tell therapist tell peer support. but as soon as you step into activist role. you responsible for more than yourself. you need learn how separate emotion from actions.

[transform4u]

Ben Platt, celebrated for his poignant performances on stage and screen, epitomized a blend of effortless charm and earnest vulnerability. At twenty-nine, he radiated a youthful enthusiasm that belied his deep-rooted talent and introspective nature. With a boyish smile and eyes that spoke volumes, he embodied the quintessential modern-day romantic lead, both on and off-camera.

In his sprawling Los Angeles home, nestled comfortably in the hills, Ben lived a life that mirrored his multifaceted career. The walls adorned with contemporary art, each piece carefully selected to evoke emotion or provoke thought, reflected his eclectic tastes. The spacious living area, with its plush furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows, offered breathtaking views of the city below—a constant reminder of his success and the journey that led him here.

Central to his life was his relationship with Noah, a writer whose quiet intelligence and sharp wit complemented Ben's outgoing nature. Theirs was a relationship built on mutual respect and a deep understanding, a love story often adored by their fans and respected by their peers in Hollywood.

As Pride month unfolded, Ben found himself scrolling through Instagram one late evening, the glow of his phone casting soft shadows on his face. Among the usual cascade of rainbow flags and heartfelt messages of inclusivity, a video thumbnail caught his eye—an innocuous title proclaiming "Straight Pride: Celebrating Tradition." His initial reaction was to dismiss it, a reflex borne from years of advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and a deep-seated skepticism toward any notion of "Straight Pride." Yet, a curious impulse nudged him to reconsider. With a hesitant swipe, he tapped on the video, unaware of the strange energy that seemed to emanate from his phone.

The video began innocently enough—a montage of cheerful faces and upbeat music overlaying images of smiling couples and families. But as Ben watched, an unsettling sensation gripped him. The content took a sharp turn, morphing into a fervent declaration of "normalcy" and "traditional values," juxtaposed against stark images of protests and pride parades. The rhetoric grew sharper, the tone more defiant, painting a distorted picture of LGBTQ+ activism as a threat to societal norms.

A surge of conflicting emotions coursed through Ben—a mix of anger, disbelief, and a gnawing uncertainty. His fingers trembled slightly as he scrolled through the comments, a battleground of opinions ranging from unwavering support to vehement condemnation. Yet, amidst the chaos, one comment stood out—a cryptic message that seemed to beckon to him: "Embrace who you truly are."

In that moment, as if compelled by an unseen force, Ben felt a strange jolt that seemed to radiate from his phone and course through his body. It was as if a door long closed had been unexpectedly nudged ajar, inviting him to explore a part of himself he had kept carefully guarded. With a furrowed brow and a heart heavy with confusion, he closed the app, but the seed of doubt had already been planted—a tiny fissure in his convictions that threatened to grow wider with each passing moment.

As Ben Platt continued to watch the video, a peculiar sensation swept over him. At first imperceptible, he felt a tingling warmth spread from his core outward, as if his very essence was responding to the unsettling narrative unfolding before him. His skin took on a subtle tan, a bronzed hue that seemed to deepen with each passing moment, contrasting with his usual fair complexion.

His attention, however, was drawn to his arms—once slender and graceful, they now appeared more defined, sinewy with muscles that flexed involuntarily as he absentmindedly traced the lines of his jaw. The sleeves of his shirt strained slightly against his burgeoning biceps, the muscles beneath pulsing with newfound strength. His abs, previously toned but not overly pronounced, became more chiseled, each contour etched with a newfound definition that hinted at hours spent in the gym.

The dialogue from the video played on, a relentless barrage of assertions about masculinity and strength. "Real men are big and strong," the voice proclaimed, its tone insistent and authoritative. "They don't waste time with books and emotions—they act!" Ben found himself nodding along, his mind clouded by a growing fog that dulled his usual sharpness.

Unaware of the changes manifesting in his own body, Ben instinctively flexed his arms, marveling at the newfound power and size of his biceps. His gaze shifted back to the screen, where images of burly men performing physical feats dominated the narrative. With each passing minute, Ben's thoughts seemed to scatter, his once-keen intellect succumbing to a pervasive sense of simplicity.

A wave of confusion washed over him as his thoughts fragmented further, replaced by an inexplicable desire to conform to the image of masculinity presented in the video. His movements became more deliberate, his speech slower and more deliberate, mirroring the perceived ideal of strength and simplicity. As the video reached its crescendo, Ben felt a profound shift within himself—a transformation not just in body, but in mind—a transformation that threatened to rewrite the very essence of who he was.

As Ben Platt continued watching the video, he saw a charismatic man, ruggedly handsome with a strong jawline and piercing eyes, presenting himself as the embodiment of traditional masculinity. The man spoke passionately about deep conservative values, emphasizing the importance of traditional family structures and his own upbringing in the heart of the South.

The narrative in the video grew increasingly compelling to Ben, resonating with a part of him he hadn't acknowledged before. His thoughts began to shift, his mind absorbing the rhetoric like a sponge. He found himself nodding along to statements that once would have clashed with his liberal ideals. The man on the screen spoke of strength, resilience, and simplicity—qualities that Ben found himself yearning for as his own perceptions of self began to transform.

Unbeknownst to him, Ben's demeanor started to change subtly. His speech became coarser, his gestures more assertive. He absentmindedly pawed at his chest, feeling a strange exhilaration as he explored the newfound contours of his body—muscles rippling under his touch, his skin taking on a reddish hue from the imaginary sun of his altered memories.

Memories that were now shifting, morphing into a narrative of a childhood in the South, in a small trailer park where money was scarce and values were simple yet sturdy. His recollections painted scenes of dusty roads and sweltering summers, of hardworking parents who instilled in him the virtues of hard labor and perseverance.

Physically, Ben's face began to change, becoming more angular, more ruggedly handsome—a transformation that mirrored the man on the screen. His once-boyish features now took on a more mature, almost ape-like masculinity, accentuated by the reddish tint of his sun-kissed skin.

As the video continued to play, Ben felt an unsettling mix of exhilaration and loss. He was gaining something—a newfound sense of identity and purpose—but at the cost of losing pieces of himself that he had held dear. His mind, once sharp and compassionate, grew cruder and more ruder, aligning with the simplicity and certainties espoused by the video.

In this transformative moment, Ben Platt was becoming something different, something he never imagined he would be. The allure of strength and tradition pulled at him like a magnet, reshaping not just his body, but his very essence.

As Ben Platt continued to watch the video, a profound shift began to take place within him. He found himself captivated by the ideals of Southern pride and conservative values presented in the video. The speaker, a charismatic figure with a rugged charm and a confident demeanor, spoke passionately about his upbringing in the heart of the South, emphasizing the importance of family, hard work, and a deep-seated belief in traditional values.

Ben's mind absorbed these messages like a sponge, each word resonating with a resonance he had never felt before. His thoughts drifted to images of rolling hills, expansive farmland, and close-knit communities where everyone knew each other's names. He imagined himself as a part of this world—confident, self-assured, and proud of his Southern roots.

As the video continued, Ben felt a transformation sweeping over him. His posture straightened, his speech took on a subtle Southern drawl, and his mannerisms became more assertive and straightforward. The complexities of his previous life and career seemed to fade away, replaced by a clarity of purpose and a sense of belonging to a community he had only just discovered.

In his mind, Ben began to reshape his identity. He discarded the name "Ben" and embraced "Jasper," a name that carried the weight of generations of Southern tradition. Jasper envisioned himself as a Southern Republican boy, eager to explore the world beyond his small town and meet a nice Southern woman who shared his values and aspirations.

Gone were the liberal leanings and progressive ideals that once defined him. Jasper embraced conservatism with fervor, seeing it as a beacon of stability and order in an increasingly chaotic world. He held steadfast beliefs in limited government, individual responsibility, and the sanctity of traditional marriage and family.

Physically, Ben's appearance began to change as well. His once-boyish features sharpened into a more rugged masculinity, his jawline more defined, and his frame more robust. He dressed in denim jeans, cowboy boots, and plaid shirts that reflected his newfound identity.

With a sense of purpose burning within him, Jasper eagerly anticipated the future. He yearned to explore the vast expanse of the South, to immerse himself in its rich culture and history, and to find a companion who shared his dreams of building a life rooted in tradition and faith.

In this transformation, Ben Platt became Jasper—a Southern Republican boy who embraced his heritage with pride and looked forward to a future filled with promise and possibility.

[makomaki5]

If you want some other game recommendations from a huge gamer that is NOT Hogwarts Legacy, I got you bc we do not support antisemitism or transphobia.

Full disclaimer: If your advocacy goes as far as for Trans and Jewish voices to fall on deaf ears about a VIDEOGAME?!? Then, you were never an ally to begin with.

But, as a videogame lover and player, I will make other recommendations for you to play if you really need a good game that will support the rights of other people and is not built on hate!

If you really want a wizard game:

Play Skyrim and Eldan Ring! Those are two great open-world/build your character/magic games that don’t center around magic but have magic nonetheless! They actually have more spells and than this stupid game centered around wizards! Plus, they both have HUGE open worlds that will take (I promise) hundreds of hours to play and explore.

Play the Witcher!!! Although I have not played it, my sister raves left and right about the Witcher 3! It’s a choice-based, super long, world-heavy game that just immerses you in both magic and spells from the get go! Although not a ton of spells, it’s a timeless game and WAY ahead of it’s time.

If you really want a choice based game:

We literally got Cyberpunk a few years ago! It has amazing features for custom characters and fun armor to mix and match. It also has a choice-based storyline and multiple endings based on the choices you make/categories of your personality you update! What’s also so great about this game is it naturally has great representation. I’ve never seen a game that has NPCs have a set sexual orientation and won’t stray from it: if you are a straight man and hit on the lesbian, she will TELL YOU she’s a lesbian. It’s very interesting and also have trans representation and her personality is not just her being trans. It’s compelling. So, play this game!!!

Another set of great choice games is the Life is Strange series! Although not open world, every choice you make impacts the ending/relationships you have with different characters. There is also GREAT LGBTQ+ rep in every game they produce. The first time I played these games, my brain chemistry changed.

The walking dead series is an AMAZING choice-based series with a lot of representation. Although not open world and depressing(lol), it is a super immersive experience and has your heart rip in half for the characters. In the last game, especially, we see a more immursive and creative fighting techniques that just made you binge the game.

Another great game (that isn’t exactly choice but has an interesting way for you to interact with the world based off the way you want to explore) is Disco Elysium. You get to choose how/why/when/where you interact with the world and people. I have literally never played a game like this and my jaw dropped when I started. I could NOT put it down. The clock ticks throughout the day so you need to be careful about what you do with the amount of time you have. EVERY relationship will unravel another part of the mystery going on throughout the game. And, it’s very intense, fun, and full of philosophical shit that just makes you excited. Plus, you can tell it was made with so much dedication and care.

Fallout 4!!!!! This game is super underrated now a days, but is it worth playing! You can customize your character and choose who you side with/who you kill/who you save/who your friend are/what clothes you wear/what weapons you weld. Like, you cannot ask for more out of this game!! And, the world is HUGE and filled with such intricaticay. I cant rave about this game enough.

Persona 5! This is one of the best games I have ever played in my life! Like Disco Elysium, you only have so much time throughout the day to complete tasks and your relationship with peers/the skills you have are gotten from that time. So, if you choose not to hang out with someone or do homework or whatever, you could not max different parts of your personality/combat techniques. Is game is also in part a choice game, where you get to choose which route you want your narrative to be. Super fun! Also, this game has super fun turn-based combat that just leaves you on your toes! It’s super fun and super immersive and super HARD. It will take you a hundred hours to play.

If you want an immersive open-world:

I already named a few up there, but I haven’t mentioned the Horizon series yet, which is just fantastic. Both games have HUGE open worlds and a great amount of representation that just comes so easy to it and feels so natural. It’s not forced or random or anything: it’s right and natural and not a HUGE deal. It also has very immersive worlds with quite a lot to do. Although Horizon Forbidden West only has about 28 hours of the main story, it took me 80 hours to complete it because that’s just how huge the world was. Plus, the lead character, Aloy, has so much depth and interesting tidbits about her that you KNOW the game was created so much love and care. Also, the face expressions are so real and beautiful, it literally brought tears to my EYES

Red Dead Redemption 2 literally has one of the greatest open-worlds of all time and y’all are gonna play that shitty wizard game 😭?? It’s SO intimate and fun. There are times where you’ll be stopped to do a side mission and, if you die, you can’t go back to do it! I can’t say enough about this game because im sure everyone has heard it already but it’s emotional, FILLED TO THE BRIM with character depth, and super goddamn fun.

We all know about Breath of the Wild, but if you haven’t played that yet and are choosing to play Hogwarts Legacy, what are you doing ??

And just other GREAT games:

All the Batman Arkham Series games are INCREDIBLE. They literally were the stepping stones to other great games and was one of the first to introduce such an interesting half-open world concept. They fighting and stealth is ridiculously fun, and I have replayed these games so many times!

The tomb raider games are FANTASTIC. Filled with puzzles, stealth, and fighting, you cannot milk out more from this game. Plus, you okay as the incredible Lara Croft, who is such an interesting character.

The Last of Us?!? Such great representation! And what great character depth! You can see the love that goes into this game and what it means for the people that create it. Although a linear game, it does not necessarily feel that way because of the amount of exploring you are forced to do. This is one of those rare games where crafting does not feel like a chore, but an immersive and anxious experience. Both games are perfect!!!

If I forgot any, repost and add them because yeah! And, if you’re still not convinced to play something else, you aren’t an ally and stop calling yourself one!

[trans-axolotl]

hi! What is peer respite?

hi anon! I love talking about peer respite :D

Peer respite is a community-based alternative to psych wards. They offer 24/7 short term crisis stabilization-usually for around a week to 2 weeks. Unlike psych wards, they are completely voluntary and all the staff are people with experience with mental health/extreme states/being in the mental health system. Staff are extensively trained in peer support and mental health first aid, and oftentimes staff members will have other degrees in mental health or healthcare related fields. Usually, peer respite is in a house and it is a homelike environment where you can leave at any time, can have visitors, can have your phone, and can bring comfort items and preferred activities. At peer respites, there are no restraints used, no strip searches, and no solitary confinement.

Each peer respite is a little different, but I can tell you about one that my friend works at who is a social worker with lived experience of psychosis! When people decide to come to the peer respite, they usually make a plan for how they want their stay there to look like. Peer support workers will lead optional life skills/coping skills groups throughout the week, as well as other group activities for anyone who wants to participate. There is self-advocacy education, crisis planning options, and art wellness activities. Everyone is assigned a personal support worker who they can go to any time they need a check in or one-on-one support. Staff and guests work together to cook meals, and the entire stay is free of cost.

Since peer respite is an alternative to the psychiatric systems, most peer respites do not provide traditional therapy or psychiatric medications. Most peer respites will work with you to set up outpatient therapy services if you're interested, and I know a lot of people who continue to see the outpatient providers that they already have throughout their stay at peer respite.

A lot of people who go to peer respite have really positive experiences, and there's been several studies done looking at the outcome of crisis stays at peer respite. A lot of people speak positively about the homelike environment, being able to get emotional and crisis support without the fear of institutionalization, and being able to have autonomy about what your days look like, what choices you make, and what healing looks like to you. Some people stay at peer respite and are still able to go to school or work for the week while knowing that they have a safer environment to go back to.

Peer respite is not a perfect solution for everyone's experience of crisis. If you need a longer term stay, are looking for immediate clinical therapy, are someone who is searching for immediate medication support, or who needs immediate physical medical care--peer respite might not be able to meet your needs. Each peer respite house is going to be different, have different staff and visitors, and different policies, and some people might just not feel comfortable in a particular peer respite house. It's shitty and I hope this changes, but some peer respite houses are inaccessible, will have policies around drug use that might prevent people from staying, or have policies that prevent people who are homeless from staying. So, peer respite definitely isn't a perfect solution or something that can meet everyone's crisis needs, but is a really cool option that I hope continues to become available in more states.

Here's a directory with links to peer respites in the US, and here's research done about peer respite!