#there’s women poc and lgbtq people who are going to suffer

[iwatcheditbegin]

A good reminder that not everyone in red states has shit beliefs. Please remember that before you make your jokes about red states being backwards. There’s literally vulnerable groups who are terrified rn

[irrationalbalids]

The trans people that are about to suffer

The poc

The women

The lgbtq

The Palestinians

The hundreds of thousands of millions of people who are going to die because Trump gets another 4 years, because now project 2025 might go through.

If you didn't vote for Harris

That's your fault

If we don't win this election

If you didn't vote for Harris

It's your fault

[samsno1]

I'm so sorry for my followers, mutuals, or any USA resident out there for the results of this election. I've been in a slight hiatus, but I can't just not come here and not wish all of you good luck for the next four years and, at the same time, my shock to learn how honestly heartless some of you are for electing Donald Trump again.

I usually don't talk politics on this account because, well, I write fanfiction with non-existent characters, and I don't think it's fitting for me to do this here, but I felt the need to come here and say the whole world is sending love to those who are going to suffer for these four years. To the women and girls out there, to LGBTQ+ folk, to POC, to anyone who isn't white, male, cisgender, heterosexual and able bodied.

As a Brazilian, we went through tough times from 2018 to 2022 with our past president (who is now ineligible). 700,000 people died during covid because of his neglect because he refused to buy vaccines. Education suffered, food prices were high, and he wasted millions on buying houses for him and his family when federal institutions were being ignored, but we got through this, we had so many losses but we survived.

My heart is with all of you, truly. You are going to get through this. It will pass.

[mischievous-mayhem-is-upon-you]

Definite Triggers: US E*lection

If you fuck with Trump or if you’re a Canadian conservative leaning towards Poiliere GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY BLOG PERIOD.

After this I won’t post personal rants on politics but I am tired and pissed off and I’m sorry to all of my American friends, followers and mutuals. I am here for you in support.

As a Canadian who’s watched this current election unravel all day/night, this election has to be the most mind boggling thing I’ve ever witnessed.

The amount of people who threw their vote to 3rd party during THIS ELECTION??? Why? What was the fucking purpose for damning the lives around you and very well your own for ANOTHER 4 years with a man who’s unfit for office - who used white supremacy/ racism / sexism to name only a few things? A man who’s only purpose in politics is to blame immigrants, POC, Women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities and the low income / working class for the countries problems when it’s the rich and elite pulling the strings across the country to HURT YOU and privately profiting off of it??

There’s also people coming forward in a panic saying they tossed him a vote because “they thought it would be funny, and didn’t think he would win”. Fuck you, regardless if you think the elected candidates are a joke and would never win (which clearly already happened), if you’re not voting on policies for the betterment of the country and counties/cities you’re in, then don’t fucking vote because it fucking matters. There are states with less than 100 ballots of a difference between Kamala and Trump…LESS THAN 100! Your voice did matter!!

Under “normal” and I’ll say that loosely circumstances I am all for voting on your own personal values for policies on a country wide scale even if it means a vote away from the primary candidates as changes have to start somewhere if you want to see any hope of breaking free from the constant 4 year cycle of typical shit vs shittier…but this was not the fucking time. In the states she needed, those 1-2% third party votes would have changed the outcome in the states she needed to hang on.

I am livid, frustrated and tired of what feels like big project social engineering experiments happening across the country in the USA to see how gullible and malleable the people are. And this is a call for the next 4 years to make yourself HEARD, part take in your local government and help make your local community safer for you and your loved ones.

I am typically apolitical due to family stresses in my own country, but I have watched since the first presidency of Trump, my family loose themselves in to believing this man to be the true saviour of the USA, and the world. I’ve gone from a left wing family many of which who once used to be and still are gay/lesbian/bi, once had friends of many cultures and religions who once said they would vote on the protection of the minority and people who are at harm by big government no longer stand by that practice and are actively looking to vote conservative which is now forming to align with the USA’s right wing ideology. If we were in the states it would be my vote against 15 and I just don’t know how to stomach it.

And this is exactly how it will play when it comes to our elections for Prime Minister. Which is why I’m not going to back away - even if I can’t break through to my family. Showing solidarity and support for the people in my community that could suffer from a conservative flip during our election is now the only thing I’ve got left. For any Canadians who are new to voting or are struggling with their thoughts on what to do. Research policies, pay attention to unbiased news outlets, and vote on issues that matter most to you on a country wide scale.

My family is celebrating today in Canada that he won…so I am with you for anyone who is hurting and feeling lost right now. This is unacceptable and I am sorry.

[precambrian-sea-pancake]

Antisemitism is bad

Islamophobia is bad

Zionism is bad

Killing innocent people and taking hostages is bad

Blowing up civilian occupied places is bad

Genocide is bad

Hamas is bad

Israeli government is bad

Freeing hostages is good

Supporting Palestinian is good

Freeing Palestine is good

Hamas is NOT Palestine

Supporting Palestinians does not mean I support Hamas.

Wanting to free the hostages does not mean I support Israel.

For the love of god why do people not understand this? Why do people keep using gatchas and acting like you can only care about one thing?

Why does our government send billions to Israel but not to their own citizens?

Homelessness here is rampant. Towns are destroyed in fires. Indigenous people are freezing to death. POC communities are terrorized daily. Lgbtq people are losing rights. Women are losing rights. Working class people can barely afford to live by themselves.

But sure, send that much needed money to a country that is playing this war so carelessly.

Ukraine is still being invaded. There’s a genocide going on in Congo.

The only side that needs support are the civilians. They’re the ones suffering in this situation. Not just Palestinians and the Israeli hostages, but the working class people who live in countries that don’t support them.

People are fucking dying and all these governments see is statistics.

It is so frustrating how people in power lack basic empathy.

Every day I open social media or turn on the news I see suffering. I see videos of kids being injured, trapped, and grieving.

But Israel and the western world don’t see that. To them those people are just consequences of war. You’d think that after seeing their people slaughtered and kidnap they would want to prevent others from experiencing the same thing, right? Well they don’t care. They don’t give a fuck.

That’s the problem: politicians don’t give a fuck.

[justahumblememefarmer]

TL;DR - A woman with alopecia (which causes baldness/hair loss) posted about being harassed in a bathroom. She received a large amount of support, particularly from trans people. However it was then discovered that she has past tweets where she'soutwardly stated that she does not want trans people to compete in sports.

It's just so very "Never thought leopards would eat MY face"

"I just wanted to peacefully attack a minority group! But now I got attacked cause somebody thought I was part of that group. I should never be treated this way, unlike those nasty minorites who definitely deserve it."

Just the thought process of "All trans women can be identified by their masculine features. Therefore, everybody who we deem as not sufficiently feminine enough can be safely attacked and harassed because they're definitely trans!" and then going, "Oh no, turns out some people think that I'm not sufficiently feminine enough. The problem is definitely that the rules for what is feminine enough don't include me, not that there are rules for that in the first place."

All the different forms of bigotry really do rely on the fact that for your system of oppression to work, some people from your in-group (potentially you) might also suffer from the consequences of that system.

GNC cis people suffer from the policing of trans people's femininity/masculinity

Straight people have to constantly shove themselves into a box to be seen as not gay

Poor white people suffer under the systems we created to create POC from gathering wealth and advancing

And yeah, the fact that minorities suffer from these systems should be enough for people not to support them. But it's just wild that even the argument of "this system might hurt you AND the minorities you hate" isn't enough of an argument for people to critically examine those thoughts.

[fission-mailure]

My view, and it's a view that's only backed up by the debate, is that the question of Trump vs Harris is basically the same as the question of Tories vs Labour in the UK general election.

I might not especially like Keir Starmer or Labour, but I voted for Labour at the general election in July because Labour was a party that actually seemed to want to govern and be serious about governing, as opposed to the Tories who are venal psychopaths addicted to cruelty to others, for whom governing is only the means by which they can alternately satisfy themselves by hurting people and enrich their friends.

And so far, the outcome of Labour getting into power has been mixed. There have been really good things: They shut down the horrific 'traffic refugees to Rwanda' scheme, they have a Renter's Rights bill going through that seems genuinely amazing, they've got workers rights reforms and nationalisation of public services plans which while I don't think are going far enough are at least improvements on what we have now. And there have been bad things: Taking Winter Fuel Allowance from pensioners is an absolutely massive one that may prove to be the thing that sinks them, for example, and I'm sure there'll be more, some of which might affect me and drastically change my opinion of them. On balance so far, though, they've been an improvement. I said before the election that I didn't believe the UK could survive five more years of the Tories, and that remains true: The UK couldn't have survived the Tories. It might survive Labour.

Harris vs Trump feels like the same, only magnified. It's a choice between a competent politician who knows her stuff and is actually interested in governance, who for a lot of people absolutely doesn't fulfill being an ideal candidate; and Trump, who is a venal, stupid felon, an alleged rapist, who tried to commit a coup, who fantasises about being a god king and who honestly has absolutely no interest in making life better for anyone except himself, no interest in governing, who will gleefully take your rights away and cause maximum suffering because his only agenda is whatever makes him feel good.

I think the choice is clear. And that's often called incrementalism and derided, and yeah, it is incrementalism, and yeah, it doesn't always work, and in fact it often doesn't. But we live in Hell, and on election day the only meaningful choice is between The Candidate Who Might Improve Some Things And Who In Every Other Aspect Will Minimise Harm, and The Candidate Who Will Make Everything Worse As Fast As Possible. If the latter wins, people will suffer, and people will die, in greater numbers and to a greater degree than if the former wins. Women, POCs, Ukrainians, Palestinians, LGBTQ people, disabled people, and more and more besides, they cannot afford a Trump presidency.

I truly believe, as an angry progressive who hates the helplessness that this implies, that when your only choices are between harm minimisation and harm maximisation, that the ethical choice is harm minimisation, not refusing to make a choice at all. And I despise that I have to say that, but it is true.

And even within that framework: As far as harm minimisation candidates go, Harris is frankly not the worst candidate available to you. She is incredibly competent. She understands the issues, appears to have compassion, seems to have some kind of moral backbone, and she can be swayed on issues. Frankly, that's more than a lot of people can say about their leaders.

So I do hope that the US votes in Harris come November. Please, really please, do not let Trump become president again. That has dragged half the countries in the world to the Right before, and it will again, to say nothing of how many people in the US died because of him. It has emboldened fascists everywhere, within the US and outside of it, and it will again. Harris may do some good, and I genuinely think she will. Or she may keep things exactly the same, which wouldn't be great but is an improvement on things getting worse.

From an outsider's perspective, the US is lucky with Harris. I would kill for Harris to be Prime Minister of the UK instead of Starmer, and I don't even particularly dislike Starmer. It sucks to say, but your choice in November is binary: Make the right one. God knows the fascists will all be voting for Trump.

Something else that stands out: Trump was repeatedly asked questions about what he would do to improve various issues: healthcare, the environment, the war in Gaza. And all he does is say “well this problem never would have happened if I had been the president.” And that’s not the question asked! Like, tough luck, but you weren’t president. Here is what the situation is now. What are you going to do about it? And he doesn’t have an answer. Not on healthcare, not on environment, not on Gaza. He appears to think that all these problems will magically disappear if he becomes president. Well, they won’t. The problems will still exist, and he has no plan to deal with any of it; if he had a plan, he would have told us. (He’s so good at telling us his plans for illegal immigrants, after all.) He does have a plan for the economy, but it’s a complete disaster that would raise the cost of living and increase the deficit—tax breaks always increase the deficit unless you offset them with a tax hike somewhere else, and the cost of tariffs is always passed on to consumers (which is why Harris was calling it a sales tax, because more people would understand how that affects cost of living). Oh, and he also accused immigrants of eating cats, accused the FBI of fraud, repeatedly trashed our country, and generally sounded like a listing for an alphabet-soup brand’s product on Amazon, only instead of “chair seat papasan loveseat perfect for living room bedroom parlor,” it’s “immigrants crime China Mexico Venezuela fracking guns executing babies.”

Harris, by contrast, has plans. I personally think they are pretty good plans. There are some minor details I would change, but it’s a hell of a lot better than “no plans, I’m too awesome for plans” and/or a reskinned Project 2025. She also hasn’t accused immigrants of eating cats or accused anyone of “wanting abortions in the ninth month” (an utterly ridiculous claim; if someone doesn’t want a baby at that point, you induce labor and the newborn becomes a ward of the state).

It’s a race between utterly incompetent dictatorial insanity and a competent woman whose policy positions may be somewhat off from your preference (or not).

Please don’t vote for the guy who thinks immigrants eat cats and dogs.

[silvermoon424]

The discourse about the Russia-Ukraine war on here (I hate using the phrase "discourse" about a war but whatever) is getting kind of exhausting. For example, I've seen a bunch of posts from people saying things like "Sure would be nice to see this kind of international solidarity for brown countries at war."

On one hand, I do actually really empathize with this position. It's unfortunately very true that other countries stricken by war (especially those that are African or Arab) have been treated with much less sympathy and way less attention than Ukraine has been getting. It's undeniable that Ukraine has gotten a lot more attention and sympathy than other countries in large part because it is a predominately white European country. That doesn't mean that Ukraine deserves less international attention, it just means that other countries deserve more international sympathy and attention.

But I've seen some people be straight-up nasty, saying things like "Eastern Europeans are racist af so I don't have any sympathy for these people" or acting like they shouldn't have to feel sympathy for Ukrainians because POC in war-torn countries have it worse and get less attention.

I want to make it clear that from what I can tell these are not "woke" white people hating on their own race for social justice points, but rather POC who are sick and tired of seeing people like them thrown into the gutter because of white/Western supremacy and the effects of colonialism. I'm white myself, so I can't even imagine what it's like to live your whole life being discriminated against just because of the skin color you were born with and/or where you happened to be born.

That being said, I really can't stand by the fact these people are being so unsympathetic and shitty to Ukrainians. These are people who have suffered so much for centuries under Russia, who are fighting for their right to self-determination. They're fighting for their freedom. And what makes me so mad is that you just know that the same people who are saying "I don't care about Ukrainians, they're racist" would chew you out for saying that about Palestinians.

Like literally, I've seen posts going around making the very valid point that you should support Palestinians and other non-Western groups who (as a collective whole) may not have the most enlightened views on LGBTQ+ people and women's rights because you shouldn't have to be perfect to not get murdered/colonized. So why is that suddenly different for Ukrainians? It's true that Eastern Europeans as a collective whole don't have the most progressive views on LGBTQ+ people and race, but does that justify them being brutalized and colonized against their will? Not to mention the fact that, of course, you can't just generalize everyone living in a country.

Idk man, I hope this makes sense and doesn't offend anyone. I totally agree it's sad and awful that we don't see this kind of international solidarity and kindness for non-white countries, but I don't think that gives people an excuse to be like "I don't care what happens to those people." That's not the right thing to do.

[fairyphiliac]

This ao3 thing devolving into a yes/no on censorship debate feels entirely like we’re dodging the real center of the problem. The need for censorship is just a symptom. If people aren’t able to post cp/blatant racism/etc. on ao3 anymore you can be damn sure they’ll post it elsewhere (not saying it’s not worth censoring, just that I want to address how these things got so deeply rooted into fandom in the first place.)

So let’s talk about it. (I’m mostly going to be talking about the production of cp/violent pornography/rape glorification, because that is what I know the most about, there are other facets of problematic media and in many instances racism and classism are mixed in with these things too).

I’ve worked in the adult retail industry for the last four years. I get a very unique and in depth perspective on the sexual habits of the general public. In a society where sex education usually stops at the bare minimum, and sex - especially kink - is not commonly talked about, you can be absolutely sure that kinks/fetishes will both develop and be expressed in extremely unhealthy or problematic ways. Especially with the internet, people - KIDS ESPECIALLY- are being exposed to sexual content that they are not mentally and emotionally mature enough for, and don’t fully know how to process. They develop sexual tastes without having a baseline understanding of healthy sex practices, consent, communication, and boundaries.

I did a report once on how media is effecting the sexual practices of the general public, especially the youth. (If anyone wants I can dig up my sources, they are in fact academic/ scientific journal articles, I’m sure I still have this report somewhere). Essentially the research shows this- the earlier/more frequently young people are exposed to extreme sexual media, especially violent pornography (which is INCREDIBLY easy for anyone to access), the more extreme their own sexual tastes become, frequently to the point that as a young adult they are unable to become sexually aroused unless violence/extreme and often risky behavior is occurring. For a lot of people who do not have proper kink education, or who lack maturity, or a whole slew of other reasons, this means that a perfect circumstance for real life sexual violence has just been created- and guess who usually suffers? The demographics most often portrayed as submissive or as objects of domination and violence in media (women, POC, LGBTQ+, even minors or minor-appearing…). So there you have it- unbridled access to problematic media contributes to real life sexual violence.

Kink is not inherently bad. For some it is an extremely healthy outlet, or even a way to process and cope with sexual trauma- if it is done by the book. By that, I mean following ALL of the rules that the true kink community is built on- safe, sane and sober, clear and informed consent, mature ADULTS only, established and clearly communicated boundaries, practical safety precautions, aftercare and emotional support. You can’t just skip all of that. Even if your involvement in kink is purely fictional/fantasized, you NEED to understand all of that because I am telling you, the media you expose yourself to can and will inform your own psychology.

So how does this all fit into fandom? Unfortunately fanfiction is a part of this cycle that flies way under the radar compared to traditional pornography. We cannot continue to have irresponsible fans writing irresponsible content. I am begging you to understand the full impact when I tell you that your fic sexualizing a minor, which is online for ANYONE to see, can be a building block for establishing pedophilic tendencies in readers. I need you to understand that your poorly informed and immature representation of BDSM is contributing to a growing taste for sexual violence among young people.

I am not “kink shaming” when I am telling you not to post harmful garbage. I am pleading for the sake of those who are already more susceptible to experiencing sexual violence. And if you feel like you have been a part of this cycle- exposed to sexual content too early, exposed to things too extreme, wondering if your own sexual tastes and habits are becoming unhealthy or if your “fantasies” are problematic or becoming too much for you to process comfortably- please PLEASE consider seeking professional psychiatric help instead of continuing the cycle by producing harmful media. Pedophilia is not acceptable. Degrading fetishization of POC or LGBTQ+ is not acceptable. I have a lot more to say about this but this post is already so long. Basically it comes down to this:

Take. Responsibility. For. The. Shit. You. Post.

[thesoftrainbows]

Were the Marauders really that popular?

NOTE: I can go more into spoil-free details on my headcanons for them, you just have to ask :)

TW:// contains brief mentions of abuse, mental health issues, mild swearing, smoking, brief mentions of homophobia, racism, ableism, transphobia. I think that’s about it. 

I’m writing this long-ass Wolfstar fan fiction and based on my personal headcanons, here’s the answer:

Yes and No. 

In my fanfic, and the way that I always see them in my head, we have an Indian (Gujarat) James Potter who’s stupidly in love with a plus-sized, snarky Lily Evans. 

We have a half-Japanese, genderqueer and gay Sirius Black who’s well known for being a blood-traitor ever since their second year, not to mention that they’ve been leaving people awe-struck every single time she feels like a girl and dresses in a feminine way. They’re also deaf in one ear. He suffers from panic attacks and childhood PTSD. NOTE: His family dynamic slightly changes to fit the story. They’re still from an abusive home, but there’s a lot more to it than just that. Sirius’ relationship with his parents - particularly her mother - will be brought up and explained.

We have a heavily-accented Welsh Remus Lupin, who’s scrawny and awkwardly tall that lowkey scares the shit out of everyone. He knits, but his scars and unpredictable aggressiveness that comes near full moons is enough to keep people away. He’s unlabebed but madly in love with Sirius. He’s also depressed, anxious, has low self-esteem, and daddy issues. Also, I made sure to bring up his relationship with his mother because I just love Hope Lupin and I just think she’d be an awesome mom. 

We also have Peter Pettigrew, who’s known for his fierce protectiveness for his younger sister, Jess (she’s a Slytherin, btw). He also probably has black lungs with the amount of cigarettes he smokes daily - he’s the reason why so many people even got cigarettes. He comes from a home where his parents are constantly at each other’s throats, so he’s never been able to see what love is supposed to look like when it’s healthy, but he’s working on that with a special Fem!OC. He’s depressed, has low self-esteem, and is constantly looking for someone to love him and prove himself to. 

As mentioned before, Lily Evans is a snarky, plus-sized queen. She’s also really fucking hilarious and has so many awesome prank ideas once she befriends the Marauders. She also befriends Regulus, and their dynamic is the absolute cutest. She likes the academic side of school, but it’s not the center of her world, leave that to James. She likes sneaking around with her friends at night just for the heck of it, she’s never been caught.

Marlene McKinnon is a trans woman who’s basically a lesbian version of Sirius Black. She was actually the fifth roommate of the Marauders’ until her third year. She’s always baking but Merlin save you if you piss her off or any of her friends. She’s one of the best Beaters and duelist Hogwarts has seen. She and Sirius are the definition of platonic soulmates. 

Dorcas Meadowes is a chaotic bisexual and also a raging feminist and activist that a lot of people don’t like because she’s “hard to talk to”. She’s loud, and bold, and constantly holding meetings with staffs so that they can improve the school to make it a safer environment for POCs students (and staff, too), LGBTQ+ folks, women, and literally every other minority. 

Mary MacDonald is a Korean ballerina who’s been on a violent streak ever since that group of Slytherins cornered her and...did some...things to her (it’ll be explained in the story, don’t worry). 

SO. Yes they were popular, but not in the way this fandom usually portrays them. They’re very well-known because they’re such an odd group filled with every possible outcast you could think of. Some of them (James, Lily, Peter, and Mary) are liked, but the rest are either feared or hated. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of people who genuinely like all of them and think them fun to be around, but Sirius, Remus, Marlene, and Dorcas are walking Change-That-They’re-Not-Ready-For and for a school that has so many homophobics, racists, ableists, and transphobics, it’s a struggle. 

BONUS:

Regulus is a half-Japanese, Hemophiliac Slytherin baby. (For those who don’t know, Hemophilia is a blood clot disorder that causes spontaneous bleeding and also excessive bleeding when injured - a lot of European royals have historically had this as a result of inbreeding). He would meet his brother and friends in secret just so that they could preserve their relationship. Regulus actually loved the Marauders & Co. and vice versa. There’s more but I don’t wanna spoil too much. I just love him. 

[greenteaandtattoos]

When I say that the overturning of Roe v Wade is going to cause a repeat of the Salem Witch Trials, I mean that in the most historical sense. 

The Salem Witch Trials were men and women targeted because of mass hysteria. They were hunted down and imprisoned and stood trial for often baseless accusations, some people accused others of witchcraft just because they wanted them gone, others did it to save their own skin, the poor and PoC were almost always persecuted, the moral justification using their religion. 

The mass hysteria regarding the idea that abortion is murder, the hunting of individuals thought to have gotten abortions, accusing people of getting abortions for malicious reasons, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ and the disabled being affected the most, the people in charge saying it’s bad because their religion says so, saying people who are punished deserve it.

It’s going to be a repeat of one of the bloodiest times in US history. And many are going to suffer and die.

[dhaaruni]

Like as that NYT article said, white people are going get money that propels them out of poverty thanks to the American Rescue Plan that zero Republicans voted for and then continue to vote Republican because they don’t want “unworthy” people to benefit, and they really, really don’t want women and POC and LGBT people to have equal rights or civil liberties.

There are some Republicans who think of women’s rights or racial/LGBTQ issues as acceptable collateral damage in exchange for lower taxes, but I honestly think the vast majority of Republicans, especially those who aren’t wealthy, vote Republican first and foremost to disenfranchise women/POC/LGBTQ people since they want other people to suffer as long as they personally suffer even slightly less.

Like, that’s how this country works at its core, and we have to acknowledge that or we’re never going to make it a more perfect union for everybody!!

[wordsmith30]

After “Dave Chappelle: The Closer”

Here’s one thing you should know about me. I’m not a big comedy fan. Most popular comedy is made at someone else’s expense. And as someone who has heard plenty of racist and sexist jokes growing up; been misgendered numerous times; been questioned about my sexuality; suffered from mental illness; and has had my own feelings and experiences belittled, I was not impressed. And I’m not even part of the LGBTQ+ community. I’m a light-skinned, cis-het Black girl.

I came as a complete newcomer to Dave Chappelle’s comedy and watched The Closer without any idea of what I was getting myself into. And the longer I sat there listening to him, the deeper my discomfort became.

He, like so many others, pulls the “I can’t be transphobic! I have a trans friend” card with his story about Daphne Dorman. Not only was that utterly heartbreaking, it was even more disgusting for the way he uses her to further his own position. Newsflash, buddy. Just because one trans person liked your jokes doesn’t mean they weren’t transphobic. Being validated in your transphobia does not make you right or remedy the real harm you’ve done to trans people.

He seems to be under the impression that as a Black man, he’s incapable of being sexist, prejudiced, homophobic, or transphobic, and that’s simply not true. 1) He is a cis-het man who benefits under patriarchy. He will never face the kind of sexism, discrimination, or violence that women face. And though he supposedly supports the #MeToo movement, he had plenty of jokes to make about not only women’s, but trans women’s genitalia, and offered to become the leader of the #MeToo movement so long as they “suck [his] dick.”

He says he loves the “old-school gays”, but has no problem getting into fights with lesbians at nightclubs (or misgendering them in the process). He says trans women are women and then agrees with J.K. Rowling, saying that “gender is a fact.” You can’t play both sides!

Chappelle claims that his problem isn’t with the LGBTQ+ community, but with white people and how white people within that community use their privilege to harm Black people. While that is a real issue, his arguments are undercut by his blatant homophobia and invalidation of trans identities. Because he’s not just talking about white people/white gay people/white trans people with his statements. He’s talking about the entire community at large – all trans people, including Black trans individuals (because yes, they exist too) – so he’s hurting the Black community as well. I’m sorry, but if your response to racism is homophobia and transphobia, then you’re not really helping anything. You’re only widening the divide.

You can critique racism within the LGBTQ+ community without being sexist, homophobic or transphobic.

Worse, he takes issue with anyone who criticizes him. You’d think that if multiple people – cis and trans women alike – came up to you and said, “Hey, what you said was really harmful/hateful”, you might stop for a second and say, “Oh, really? I had no idea. I’ll work on that.” But no. The attitude he takes is that all these people are “too sensitive” and that he doesn’t need them because plenty of other people think he’s funny (i.e., Dorman). He embraces the controversy and proudly proclaims himself a transphobe. Everyone else can just get over it.

And that’s just the problem. He knows what he’s doing. He knew that his commentary would get him a lot of heat. He warned his audience that his jokes were going to be controversial, and he went ahead and said them anyway. He knows what he did and he owns it. He will not apologize and he will not stop.

But the main point he takes issue with is people telling him he’s “punching down”, implying that because he’s also a marginalized individual (a Black man), he cannot be punching down because LGBTQ+ individuals are more privileged than he is. This is a gross oversimplification that ignores intersectional facets of identity. Ignores the experiences and struggles of POC people in the community. So why don’t we check your privilege, Mr. Chappelle? You are a cis-het male with a huge celebrity platform and millions of dollars in Netflix deals. You benefit under patriarchy and you’re profiting off controversy. Profiting off of the pain and suffering, and offense you’ve caused in your attack against the trans community. The Closer is going through the roof! Positions like yours only enable other people’s bigotry, only incentivize the laws that oppress trans people, only reinforce the fears and stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community. You are a very powerful person and you’re doing very powerful damage.

Daphne Dorman defended you in your bigotry and this is how you repay her? By making fun of and misgendering her, and invalidating her identity as a trans woman? Anticipating the moment you meet her daughter so you can tell her that you “knew [her] father and he was a wonderful woman”? Screw you.

[archangelbelletti]

So you want to include an LGBTQIA+ oc in your book?

Then avoid writing that they...

Are supporting characters with no personality

It's a beautiful thing to have an mc who is an ally, but be careful: does this queer character feel just as real and vivid as the others? Are they blurred? Do they feel foreign?

Try researching more about what you want to write, and avoid writing harmful tropes such as queer baiting and bury your gays, and gay friend trope!

Their personality is actually their LGBTQ indentity

Ask yourself if you feel like you could talk to them of something that's not queer topics! Do those interest feel like stereotypes, or are they legit (art, fighting, writing, making music, etc)?

Try experimenting with new characters and personalities!

They are mentally or physically unhealthy

Yes, as queer people we might have encountered difficulties in life and might have more mental issues than straight cis people.

This doesn't mean that we're constantly depressed, anxious, dissociating, sleepy, or we hurt ourselves, starve ourselves, or have unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Let's try something better: make a queer character healthy, maybe struggling a bit with correcting their families about their identity, but still loved, cared for, happy in their own skin!

Being lgbt will be a problem until the world makes it a problem, remember!

Have been sexually ab**ed (and sexualize this)

I hope I don't actually have to elaborate this.

I know many people have gone through this, but imagine this.

You're a person that falls in the YA reader spectrum (14-17) and you think you might be LGBT. Now, you read a YA book where all mcs are happy and straight and the only queer kid has been literally r*ped several times and their personality is Be depressed and Be abused.

I personally feel SO triggered by these things and they cause even more and more struggles within people who already go through hardships.

Try instead making them more important, stronger, talk about their trauma if they have it, and make the other ocs LGBT, too, but without trauma. Portray their aggressor ending up in jail and suffering all the consequences for what they did, make your oc find a person who doesn't have necessarily s*x with them but who loves them!

Are morbid towards s*x

In the majority of books about gay couples written by straight women, the two are often morbidly attracted to each other, and skip kisses and mutual admiration to jump into hot s*x.

This feels a bit weird. A gay couple works just like a straight couple: if they love each other and are not just friends with benefits, they will fall in love before f*cking, don't you think so too?

Ask yourself:

What do they love about each other?

What is the thing that makes their heart beat about the other person (not about their body, about their soul)?

How do they make each other grow?

What are the things they fight about?

Try reading books by LGBT authors about queer couples, like: They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera (MLM couple) or You're Home by Svea Duhatscheck.

Are the 1% of your ocs

This is called tokenism and it's just as bad as when a white writer makes 1% of their ocs POC.

Having no diversity whatsoever sounds unrealistic, doesn't it?

Add more LGBT people! Not only the canonical gay ocs, write non-binary ocs, neo-pronouns users, trans girls, fem trans boys, lipstick lesbians, asexual people, and so on!

With a little research, you'll know the basics on how to write a good LGBT oc, but don't forget to contact a sensitivity reader!

Is not respected and doesn't stand up for themself

We've all already seen countless stories where the LGBT kid lives in a household where they're not respected, they are bullied at school, and etc.

Why not writing a kid who is respected and validated at home and that bites back when people try to bully them at school? A queer kid who's the coolest in their school not because of their sexual or gender identity, but because of their charisma, intelligence, or popularity?

Conceives their LGBTQ identity as something to be ashamed of

It isn't! Being queer is just as valid, beautiful, and serene as being straight, so why writing ocs that hate themselves for it?

FOR YOU AS A WRITER

A quick guide for the good cishet ally writer:

Do not use slurs such as f*g, f*ggot, f*iry, d*ke, tr**ny, etc. Those words can be used by a member of the LGBT community but it's best if you as a cishet person avoid using them;

Do your research about the category you're writing for better understanding;

Rely on beta readers who are of the category you're writing so to be sure you're not writing something wrong (even if of course everyone has their point of view and their experience):

Listen to LGBT writers even when you feel outraged by what they say about representation or LGBT themes;

Be kind and merciful to your queer ocs;

Avoid stereotypes;

Avoid confusing gender with sexual indentity with sex;

Never stop experimenting.

I hope this was useful! If you're a Queer author, add more!

[ceruleanskies]

I'm not hatin on you or anything, im all for it but why do you keep hating on white people? You are being quite offensive ngl

deep breaths, kai. deep breaths. i’m prepared to lose more followers for this. so let’s discuss this ask, shall we?

i could go on and on and on about the different microaggressions or racist stereotyping I have experienced as an Indian (common culprits are ‘where are you REALLY from?’, ‘you’re so pretty for an indian girl’ or, in terms of stereotypes, the ‘indians all run pharmacies and smell bad’ and ‘all indians have poor english’ [i speak gujarati at home fluently and am learning both spanish, hindi, mandarin and korean, excuse me if my english is not perfect] which probably require another post altogeher) but I’ll keep this focused on what you were probably referencing; my post about white mh activists not uplifting POCs. 

there is a distinct difference between being offensive to white people (not racist, offensive. you cannot be racist to white people as white people have never historically been marginalised, nor has your race ever limited any opportunities for you. the dictionary defines racism as: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalised.) and pointing out the faults in a system built specifically for white people, by white people; a system that still refuses to give POCs the same privileges as white people. were you offended by me saying that white mental health activists should uplift and give platforms to POCs who suffer from mental illnesses instead of talking over them? 

Generations of systemic and institutionalised oppression and racism by a system built for white people by white people to benefit white people warrants some kind of frustration, doesn’t it? if you’re offended by someone pointing out the flaws of almost each and every system in society, (I’m quoting Hank Green here), ‘that’s probably because it’s messing with a power structure that benefits YOU’.

this got long, so read under the cut. 

time and time again POCs are systemically oppressed in every walk of life. be it in the justice system, the medical sector, hell, even in the job market... speaking of the job market, i bet you didn’t know that the University of Oxford conducted a study that sent out around 3,000 false job applications for all kids of jobs; their study found that if you’re BAME (black, asian or minority ethnic) you have to send out 60% more job applications than your white counterparts. if you would like to read the study, you can find it linked above. 

as @fruityutas​ said, black women are twice as likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts in the US (in the uk, it’s a fivefold higher mortality). seeing as it’s current, let’s discuss covid-19, shall we? if you’re a POC in britain, you’re more likely to die from covid-19 than a white person. 

think i’m making this up? have a look at what Public Health England have to say about it.

“An analysis of survival among confirmed COVID-19 cases shows that, after accounting for the effect of sex, age, deprivation and region, people of Bangladeshi ethnicity had around twice the risk of death when compared to people of White British ethnicity. People of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Black Caribbean and Other Black ethnicity had between 10 and 50% higher risk of death when compared to White British...”

“...The relationship between ethnicity and health is complex and likely to be the result of a combination of factors. Firstly, people of BAME communities are likely to be at increased risk of acquiring the infection. This is because BAME people are more likely to live in urban areas, in overcrowded households, in deprived areas, and have jobs that expose them to higher risk. People of BAME groups are also more likely than people of White British ethnicity to be born abroad, which means they may face additional barriers in accessing services that are created by, for example, cultural and language differences.” (2020) Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/908434/Disparities_in_the_risk_and_outcomes_of_COVID_August_2020_update.pdf (Accessed: 18 January 2021).

or, alternatively, if you’re sick of hearing about covid, how about the fact that the NHS is slow to respond to health problems that disproportionately affect certain ethnic minority groups? POC patients that require treatment for hepatitis B, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), hypertension and diabetes have to wait longer despite having similar symptoms to white patients. 

sick of the science? how about we talk about the fact that doctors from BAME backgrounds are less likely to be promoted to consultant posts in the NHS than white doctors? BAME doctors are also more likely to experience bullying and harassment as well as face more complaints and disciplinary actions. 

Now, let’s discuss what i’m guessing prompted this accusatory ask; the disparities in incidence of mental illness in BAME communities versus white communities. Compared to white people, black women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders or depression, south Asian women are at a higher risk of suicide and black individuals are more likely to be sectioned under the mental health act in the United Kingdom.

From ‘rethink mental illness’:

“…People from BAME backgrounds told us that some of the barriers they face when accessing mental health care are:

cultural barriers where mental health issues aren’t recognised or aren’t seen as important,

language barriers

professionals having a lack of knowledge about things that are important to a person of colour or their experiences,

white professionals not being able to fully understand what racism or discrimination is like,

lack of publicity of mental health support and services in some communities,

stereotyping. For example, some white people think that black people with mental health issues will get angry or aggressive, conscious and unconscious bias, and

stigma about mental illness in some communities stops some people of colour seeking help. They can feel ashamed.”

White people will never be able to understand what it is like to be a POC, just like how a cishet person will never know what it’s like to be LGBTQ+ . Comparing the experiences of a white person with that of a POC is like comparing apples and oranges (I group POCs together for the sake of argument; of course I, as an Indian experience privileges that a black person does not experience). 

In spite of the greater incidence of mental illnesses in BAME communities, white people have an easier time accessing mental health care than us POCs. coming back to the argument that white people will never be able to understand racism and cultural issues that can lead to mental illness, which, as i’ve said before, is looked down upon in POC communities coupled with the notable lack of BAME therapists and psychiatrists means POCs who have the luxury of accessing therapy will more often than not have to discuss their issues with someone who will never be able to relate to them. 

but i was offensive to white people because i said white mental health activists  talk over the already-suppressed voices of POC activists. okay.

[theshedding]

Lil Nas X: Country Music, Christianity & Reclaiming HELL

I don’t typically bother myself to follow what Lil Nas X is doing from day to day, or even month to month but I do know that his “Old Town Road” hit became one of the biggest selling/streamed records in Country Music Business history (by a Black Country & Queer artist). “Black” is key because for 75+ years Country music has unsuspiciously evolved into a solidly White-identified genre (despite mixed and Indian & Black roots). Regrettably, Country music is also widely known for anti-black, misogynoir, reliably homophobic (Trans isn’t really a conversation yet), Christian and Hard Right sentiments on the political spectrum. Some other day I will venture into more; there is a whole analysis dying to be done on this exclusive practice in the music industry with its implications on ‘access’ to equity and opportunity for both Black/POC’s and Whites artists/songwriters alike. More commentary on this rigid homogeneous field is needed and how it prohibits certain talent(s) for the sake of perpetuating homogeneity (e.g. “social determinants” of diversity & viable artistic careers). I’ll refrain from discussing that fully here, though suffice it to say that for those reasons X’s “Old Town Road” was monumental and vindicating. 

As for Lil Nas X, I’m not particularly a big fan of his music; but I see him, what he’s doing, his impact on music + culture and I celebrate him using these moments to affirm his Black, Queer self, and lifting up others. Believe it or not, even in the 2020′s, being “out” in the music business is still a costly choice. As an artist it remains much easier to just “play straight”. And despite appearances, the business (particularly Country) has been dragged kicking and screaming into developing, promoting and advancing openly-affirming LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 artists in the board room or on-stage. Though things are ‘better’ we have not yet arrived at a place of equity or opportunity for queer artists; for the road of music biz history is littered with stunted careers, bodies and limitations on artists who had no option but to follow conventional ways, fail or never be heard of in the first place. With few exceptions, record labels, radio and press/media have successfully used fear, intimidation, innuendo and coercion to dilute, downplay or erase any hint of queer identity from its performers. This was true even for obvious talents like Little Richard.

(Note: I’m particularly speaking of artists in this regard, not so much the hairstylists, make-up artists, PA’s, etc.)

_____

Which is why...in regard to Lil Nas X, whether you like, hate or love his music, the young brother is a trailblazer. His very existence protests (at least) decades of inequity, oppression and erasure. X aptly critiques a Neo-Christian Fascist Heteropatriarchy; not just in American society but throughout the Music Business and with Black people. That is no small deal. His unapologetic outness holds a mirror up to Christianity at-large, as an institution, theology and practice. The problem is they just don’t like what they see in that mirror.

In actuality, “Call Me By Your Name”, Lil Nas X’s new video, is a twist on classic mythology and religious memes that are less reprehensible or vulgar than the Biblical narratives most of us grew up on vís-a-vís indoctrinating smiles of Sunday school teachers and family prior to the “age of reason”. Think about the narratives blithely describing Satan’s friendly wager with God regarding Job (42:1-6); the horrific “prophecies” in St. John’s��Book of Revelation (i.e. skies will rain fire, angels will spit swords, mankind will be forced to retreat into caves for shelter, and we will be harassed by at least three terrifying dragons and beasts. Angels will sound seven trumpets of warning, and later on, seven plagues will be dumped on the world), or Jesus’s own clarifying words of violent intent in Matthew (re: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” 10:34). Whether literal or metaphor, these age old stories pale in comparison to a three minute allegorical rap video. Conservatives: say what you will, I’m pretty confident X doesn’t take himself as seriously as “The true and living God” from the book of Job.

A little known fact as it is, people have debunked the story and evolution of Satan and already offered compelling research showing [he] is more of a literary device than an actual entity or “spirit” (Spoiler: In the Bible, Satan does not take shape as an actual “bad” person until the New Testament). In fact, modern Christianity’s impression of the “Devil” is shaped by conflating Hellenized mythology with a literary tradition rooted in Dante’s Inferno and accompanying spooks and superstitions going back thousands of years. Whether Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, Scientologist, Atheist or Agnostic, we’ve spent a lifetime with these predominant icons and clichés. (Resource: Prof. Bart D. Erhman, “Heaven & Hell”).

So Here’s THE PROBLEM: The current level of fear and outrage is: 

(1) Unjust, imposing and irrational. 

(2) Disproportionate when taken into account a lifetime of harmful Christian propaganda, anti-gay preaching and political advocacy.

(3) Historically inaccurate concerning the existence of “Hell” and who should be scared of going there. 

Think I’m overreacting? 

Examples: 

Institutionalized Homophobia (rhetoric + policy)

Anti-Gay Ministers In Life And Death: Bishop Eddie Long And Rev. Bernice King

Black, gay and Christian, Marylanders struggle with Conflicts

Harlem pastor: 'Obama has released the homo demons on the black man'

Joel Olsteen: Homosexuality is “Not God’s Best”

Bishop Brandon Porter: Gays “Perverted & Lost...The Church of God in Christ Convocation appears like a ‘coming out party’ for members of the gay community.”

Kim Burrell: “That perverted homosexual spirit is a spirit of delusion & confusion and has deceived many men & women, and it has caused a strain on the body of Christ”

Falwell Suggests Gays to Blame for 9-11 Attacks

Pope Francis Blames The Devil For Sexual Abuse By Catholic Church

Pope Francis: Gay People Not Welcome in Clergy

Pope Francis Blames The Devil For Sexual Abuse By Catholic Church

The Pope and Gay People: Nothing’s Changed

The Catholic church silently lobbied against a suicide prevention hotline in the US because it included LGBT resources

Mormon church prohibits Children of LGBT parents to be baptized

Catholic Charity Ends Adoptions Rather Than Place Kid With Same-Sex Couple

I Was a Religious Zealot That Hurt People-Coming Out as Gay: A Former Conversion Therapy Leader Is Apologizing to the LGBTQ Community

The above short list chronicles a consistent, literal, demonization of LGBTQ people, contempt for their gender presentation, objectification of their bodies/sexuality and a coordinated pollution of media and culture over the last 50+ years by clergy since integration and Civil Rights legislation. Basically terrorism. Popes, Bishops, Pastors, Evangelists, Politicians, Television hosts, US Presidents, Camp Leaders, Teachers, Singers & Entertainers, Coaches, Athletes and Christians of all types all around the world have confused and confounded these issues, suppressed dissent, and confidently lied about LGBT people-including fellow Queer Christians with impunity for generations (i.e. “thou shall not bear false witness against they neighbor” Ex. 23:1-3). Christian majority viewpoints about “laws” and “nature” have run the table in discussions about LGBTQ people in society-so much that we collectively must first consider their religious views in all discussions and the specter of Christian approval -at best or Christian condescension -at worst. That is Christian (and straight) privilege. People are tired of this undue deference to religious opinions. 

That is what is so deliciously bothersome about Lil Nas X being loud, proud and “in your face” about his sexuality. If for just a moment, he not only disrupts the American hetero-patriarchy but specifically the Black hetero-patriarchy, the so-called “Black Church Industrial Complex”, Neo-Christian Fascism and a mostly uneducated (and/or miseducated) public concerning Ancient Near East and European history, superstitions-and (by extension) White Supremacy. To round up: people are losing their minds because the victim decided to speak out against his victimizer. 

Additionally, on some level I believe people are mad at him being just twenty years old, out and FREE as a self-assured, affirming & affirmed QUEER Black male entertainer with money and fame in the PRIME of his life. We’ve never, or rarely, seen that before in a Black man in the music business and popular culture. But that’s just too bad for them. With my own eyes I’ve watched straight people, friends, Christians, enjoy their sexuality from their elementary youth to adolescence, up and through college and later marriages, often times independently of their spouses (repeatedly). Meanwhile Queer/Gay/SGL/LGBTQ people are expected to put their lives on hold while the ‘blessed’ straight people run around exploring premarital/post-marital/extra-marital sex, love and affection, unbound & un-convicted by their “sin” or God...only to proudly rebrand themselves later in life as a good, moral “wholesome Christian” via the ‘sacred’ institution of marriage with no questions asked. 

Inequality defined.

For Lil Nas X, everything about the society we've created for him in the last 100+ years (re: links above) has explicitly been designed for his life not to be his own. According to these and other Christians (see above), his identity is essentially supposed to be an endless rat fuck of internal confusion, suicide-ideation, depression, long-suffering, faux masculinity, heterosexism, groveling towards heaven, respectability politics, failed prayer and supplication to a heteronormative earthly and celestial hierarchy unbothered in affording LGBT people like him a healthy, sane human development. It’s almost as if the Conservative establishment (Black included) needs Lil Nas X to be like others before him: “private”, mysteriously single, suicidal, suspiciously straight or worse, dead of HIV/AIDS ...anything but driving down the street enjoying his youth as a Black Queer artist and man. So they mad about that?

Well those days are over.  

-Rogiérs is a writer, international recording artist, performer and indie label manager with 25+ years in the music industry. He also directs Black Nonbelievers of DC, a non-profit org affiliated with the AHA supporting Black skeptics, Atheists, Agnostics & Humanists. He holds a B.A. in Music Business & Mgmt and a M.A. in Global Entertainment & Music Business from Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia, Spain. www.FibbyMusic.net Twitter/IG: @Rogiers1