#they often speak out on their support for the lgbtq community

[alkibiadessuperfan]

I have to say it: I love imagine dragons and this whole hate train saying they are cringe and making fun of people for liking them is so stupid.

[trans-axolotl]

my gendered experience growing up as an intersex person was overwhelmingly defined by my responses and resistance to everything that got me labeled as a failure: failure to quickly get a gender assigned at birth, failure to go through a normal puberty and grow up into a woman, failure at meeting the standards for "complete womanhood" because of my intersex sex traits, and yet simultaneously failing to ever be acknowledged as a "real man" and being treated as a threat when I expressed I wanted to transition.

before i realized i was a man and came out as trans, the ways that girlhood was denied to me was very often humiliating and painful. locker rooms filled with other girls were a frequent source of shame. there were many big and small ways that i was told that my intersex body made me insufficient, incomplete, broken. i was forced onto estrogen, forced into shaving my body hair, and was constantly being told to change myself to better fit this mystical idea of a "normal woman." and even though I ultimately ended up becoming a man, the denial of girlhood was painful.

but i think that these things would have been even more difficult to navigate as an intersex girl if on top of everything I already said, i was having to cope with the denial of my girlhood while i was forced into boys locker rooms. if my doctors were forcing me onto testosterone hrt and refusing to even discuss estrogen, if all my legal paperwork had "M" on it and was a logistical nightmare to change, if every support group for my intersex variation labeled it as a "men's support group," if the LGBTQ community spaces i tried to join were misogynistic towards me often to the point of exile, if my self determination as an intersex girl was denied in most spaces of my life, and on and on and on. while listing all these things out i also don't want to make it seem like it's all about suffering and pain--so much of transition for me has been about joy in my self determination and how much it feels like a reclamation of autonomy to decide what I want my body and self to be like--i know this is an experience i share with so many of my trans intersex friends.

as an person who was AFAB, although there were many ways that trying to grow up as an intersex girl were a painful, logistical nightmare, many times and places that i was excluded from woman's spaces, etc. however, there was a simultaneous affirmation that i was right to strive for that in the first place. which is logic rooted in some fucked up compulsory dyadism, but also which would have made some things slightly easier or even possible at all if i had wanted to embrace being an intersex girl within this fucked up system.

pretty much every time i've seen people on tumblr talking about "afab transfems" in an intersex context, people seem happy to collapse these experiences and act like there's no meaningful distinction or point in distinguishing between different types of intersex embodiment. it seems incredibly extractive, to be perfectly honest with you--taking terms already used by a community to make meaning of their experiences and to expand and dilute that term enough that it means something pretty different than the original.

it's making me think about the concept of epistemic injustice, which is a term coined by Miranda Fricker to describe oppression related to knowledge, communication, and making meaning of the world. There's two subtypes of epistemic injustice: testimonial injustice and hermeneutical injustice. Testimonial injustice refers to the dynamic where marginalized people are labeled as not credible, excluded from conversations, and their testimony and knowledge is labeled as unreliable, even when they're the ones who are experts and have first hand experience of what people are talking about. (this is why i probably won't make this post rebloggable--i've noticed this pattern on tumblr many times where trans men speaking about transmisogyny get lots of notes and are given a lot of grace, where trans women are silenced, attacked for not having perfect wording, and otherwise delegitimized.)

the second type is called hermeneutical injustice. it describes how marginalized people are denied the right to make sense of the experiences in their own lives. this can look like preventing people from building community, terminology, a political understanding of themselves, and the interpretive resources needed to process how you live in the world.

this is a form of injustice that I think almost all intersex people are very familiar with--we are denied community and interpretive resources to the point that we're told we don't even exist, that intersex isn't a real word, and so many more examples that leave us isolated and with very few options for understanding what we're collectively experiencing. as an intersex person i really intimately understand how frustrating, confusing, and painful it is to not have words for your experiences, your identity, your life.

so it makes me really sad and pissed off when it seems like intersex people seem to be replicating this exact same type of epistemic injustice towards transfems and specifically towards intersex transfems. pretty much every time recently i see people talking about "afab transfems" they're doing so in a way that seems to deny that trans women even have the right to make sense of their own experiences in the world. there seems to be this mindset that these political frameworks, these interpretive resources that transfems have built up are just up for grabs for anyone. and then on top of that has come with it a lot of cruel, hateful language and direct attacks towards many intersex transfems who are facing so much harassment right now.

an important value to me is this idea of reciprocity as a foundation for solidarity. to me reciprocity means that we're prioritizing the ways we care for each other, we're thinking about how we can uplift each other, and we're watching out for extractive or exploitative patterns where one group is constantly expected to be in "solidarity" with another group without getting the same respect and care back toward them. i think that there could be so many ways that intersex people of all genders could share our overlapping experiences and actually be in true, meaningful solidarity with each other, but i barely ever actually see that happen on tumblr. and that pisses me off, because i do think that there's so much we have in common that we could celebrate and support each other with. i feel so much kinship with so, so many of my trans intersex friends, and ways where i see our lives converge. but i don't think that can happen in an environment where there's no acknowledgment of the ways that our experiences will sometimes (often) differ from each other, and the ways that we have unique needs.

another frustration i've had based on this most recent couple months of transmisogynistic intersex posting on tumblr is how intersex people have been mostly ignoring intersex community resources and devaluing the existing intersex terminology that people created to try to meet our needs. so much of what i've seen people describing on tumblr seems to really line up with the term ipsogender. Ipsogender is a term coined by an intersex sociologist Cary Gabriel Costello, and is used to describe intersex people whose gender matches the gender they were medically assigned at birth, but who might not feel like cis or trans fits them, might experience dysphoria, and who might feel like they've ended up transitioning medically or socially in some ways. this is a word that exists that an intersex person put time into coining because they wanted other intersex people to feel seen, embraced, and have ways of understanding themselves and communicating to others, and that's something that's super meaningful to me! and yet, i've rarely seen anyone reference it, and also seen multiple people making fun of it in other spaces online.

there's also intergender, which is another intersex specific gender term used to describe when your gender is inseparable from your intersex traits, and that your intersex identity is intertwined with your gender identity in some way. some people just identify as intergender, others use it as an adjective and exist as an intergender man or woman. intersex terminology like this is really important to me, especially because we're so often denied the right to make sense of our own experiences.

i think ultimately what i wanted to say with this post is just that when i think about intersex community, some of the most important values of intersex community for me are solidarity, care for each other, and affirming our right to define our own existence. and i don't think that can happen in a community where people are acting in extractive ways, harassing and attacking their fellow community members, and being dismissive of the realities of other intersex people's lives.

[genderkoolaid]

The trans campaigner, who did not wish to be named, told PinkNews that organisers of the ‘Let Women Speak’ event on Sunday (14 May) were “very keen” to have him speak after he posed as an anti-trans detransitioner. Instead, his intention was to get onto Parker’s ‘gender-critical’ livestream to share support for trans rights. He also wanted to send a message to genuine detransitioners to let them know they are “welcome” in the LGBTQ+ community. [...] During his speech, the speaker said he kept things specifically vague so that he could remain on mic for as long as possible to help spread the message of trans solidarity. But, after he said he attempted to “dismantle the mic”, Keen-Minshull, along with several of her supporters, forced him away from the stand. “The group crushed my hands, and arms, and left me with small cuts from the force they went in on me,” the speaker explained. “I have EDS and Nail Pattela Syndrome, hence the crutch, and have my joints pop out a lot when placed under force. My right hand is still in a lot of pain and I haven’t been able to use it that much after the incident. “But I had already gambled and knew that I would most likely get hurt trying to dismantle the mic.” Following the speech, he said he felt it important to note that, despite what anti-LGBTQ+ pundits may suggest, detransitioners are welcome in the community. “With detransitioners often being hit by fear-mongering, lies and hate … I needed to really hammer home that they are, in fact, welcome. “We want to support them, but falling into a cult such as the TERF movement is a sure fire way to really fall into a pit of self-hatred and loathing,” he said.

So much love for this guy. Also I find it so funny how the TERFs are like "we feel so much sympathy for this small narcissistic young woman :(" (actual words used) after they physically attacked a disabled trans man to get him to shut up as fast as possible. Really embodies what they mean when they insist they "care"

[transtheology]

According to Matson, 39, his “disclosing,” as he describes it, is a moment years in the making. He offered his story as indicative of the often difficult path for trans Catholics, including those seeking life as a religious — a category that includes brothers and nuns.

“I am currently based in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky,” he wrote in an email to friends and supporters on Sunday. “I live in a hermitage at the top of a wooded hill, which I share with my German Shepherd rescue, Odie, and with the Blessed Sacrament, which was installed in my oratory shortly before Christmas.”

[...] Matson approached a canon lawyer to discuss his options and was told that only two aspects of Catholic life were categorically off the table: marriage and the priesthood. According to Matson, the canon lawyer recommended being upfront about his status as a transgender man in any vocational conversations with church leaders and mentioned the role of a diocesan hermit, which could prove less challenging than enlisting with an existing religious order.

[...] What followed was roughly a decade of searching and no small amount of rejection. Living in the United Kingdom while pursuing a master’s degree, and later a Ph.D. in theology, Matson entered a vocational discernment program and approached the Jesuit order to ask if he could join.

“They said, ‘No, we just don’t see how this would work for us,’ which was crushing, because that’s where I felt called,” Matson said.

[...] “I thought, well, if I can’t find a religious community to sponsor me, maybe what I need is a bishop,” Matson said.

A priest friend recommended different bishops to contact, beginning with Stowe, who was emerging as a leading voice among Catholics calling for a more tolerant approach to LGBTQ+ people. In 2020, Matson sent Stowe a letter, conveying his status as a transgender man, his vision for an artists’ community and his pull to religious life.

Stowe wrote back immediately, expressing his openness.

“It was an enormous relief,” Matson said. “I was in tears. I felt my hope revive.”

[...] Matson vented his frustrations to Stowe and his spiritual director, saying he wanted to speak out. But he said he was advised to first “build a foundation” in religious life for several years.

During that time, Matson had an experience that shook him. Attending a friend’s play in his religious habit, he was approached by a student who identified as trans and nonbinary. After asking if Matson was a monk, the student said they were raised Catholic, but that their parents had rejected their identity, and the student felt like they “don’t have a place in the church anymore.”

Matson responded by saying there were people in the church who would support the student, and Matson prayed with them, asking God to show the student how they are “wonderful the way you’ve made them.” The student, Matson said, grew emotional, thanking the hermit profusely and saying, “No one from the church has ever affirmed me for who I am.”

[...] As for ever leaving Catholicism itself, Matson bristled at the idea, calling the church “my family.” “I’m Catholic,” he said. “I became Catholic after I transitioned because of the Catholic understanding — the sacramental understanding — of the body, of creation, of the desirability of the visible unity of the church and primarily because of the Eucharist.”

At the very least, Matson said, he hopes going public will spark dialogue about his fellow transgender Catholics, a discussion he believes can enhance unity among the body of believers.

“You’ve got to deal with us, because God has called us into this church,” he said. “It’s not your church to kick us out of — this is God’s church, and God has called us and engrafted us into it.”

[goodbyeyellowbrickcloset]

Taylor Swift and the Yellow Brick Road: A Queer-Coded Journey - Masterpost

Introduction

The Wizard of Oz is my all-time favorite movie. It has shaped the way I see storytelling, art, and the power of symbolism. At its core, it's a story about self-discovery, chosen family, longing for home, and stepping into a magical but often deceptive world. Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate its deeper layers—particularly its historical ties to queerness and coded storytelling.

In recent years, Taylor Swift’s engagement with The Wizard of Oz has completely opened up a new perspective for me. Her references to Dorothy, the Yellow Brick Road, and queer-coded themes are not just random. They are braided into her storytelling, her visuals, and even her activism. When you lay it all out—the lyrics, the imagery, the performances, and the deeper cultural implications—it becomes impossible to ignore. This deep dive will also explore how the people around her—friends, collaborators, and industry figures—play into the story in their own way... and how all roads somehow lead back to Taylor.

So let’s follow the Yellow Brick Road. 🌈✨

The Queer Legacy of The Wizard of Oz

Before we talk about Taylor Swift, we need to talk about why The Wizard of Oz is one of the most queer-coded films in history.

1. “Friend of Dorothy” as Queer Code

🌈 Did You Know:

“Friend of Dorothy” became secret slang for LGBTQIA+ people in the 1940s-1960s. Because being openly gay was dangerous and illegal, queer people used coded language to identify each other safely.

Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, was loved by queer audiences because her story mirrored that of many LGBTQ+ individuals—leaving home, finding an accepting chosen family, and realizing that home (identity) was inside her all along.

2. Judy Garland’s Connection to Stonewall

🌈 Did You Know:

Judy Garland’s funeral on June 27, 1969, took place the day before the Stonewall Riots. Some historians believe her passing played a role in the emotions that fueled the rebellion.

Garland was one of the first mainstream Hollywood stars to be openly supportive of queer people.

3. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as a Queer Anthem

🌈 Did You Know:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow was written by Yip Harburg, a closeted gay man. The song is about dreaming of a world where you can live freely and openly.

For decades, it has been a symbol of longing for queer liberation.

Who’s Behind the Curtain? Taylor Swift’s Oz-Themed Symbolism

Taylor has been referencing The Wizard of Oz for over a decade. And when you map the out the references, they tell a bigger story.

1. “Mean” Dreaming of Leaving Kansas – Speak Now (2011)

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – Mean (Official Music Video)

One of the earliest visual nods to The Wizard of Oz appears in the Mean music video. While it may have been subconscious at the time, the imagery is striking:

📌 Key Visual Similarities:

The rustic, old-fashioned farmhouse setting in Mean resembles Dorothy’s Kansas home.

The wooden interiors, neutral tones, and rural landscape mirror the black-and-white opening of The Wizard of Oz.

Much like Dorothy, the protagonist dreams of something bigger, longing to escape a world where they feel out of place.

In The Wizard of Oz, Kansas represents a limiting world, one where Dorothy isn’t fully seen for who she is. Similarly, the Mean music video centers around characters who feel stuck, ridiculed, and misunderstood, before eventually stepping into their true potential.

If Oz represents self-discovery and queerness, then Kansas symbolizes rigid societal expectations.

Mean centers around struggling against judgment—a theme deeply resonant with LGBTQ+ experiences.

The journey from a restrictive, sepia-toned existence to a brighter, more authentic future mirrors Dorothy’s path in The Wizard of Oz.

The themes introduced in Mean—of feeling trapped in a world that doesn’t understand you, longing for something more, and finding your voice despite opposition—are revisited throughout Taylor’s discography + performances. Kansas in Mean mirrors Dorothy’s world before Oz—a place where she is underestimated, ridiculed, and told she can’t be more than she is.

📌 Other Key Visual in the Music Video:

In the locker room scene, the bullied boy (a key character in the video) is wearing lavender while being mocked by football players.

Lavender is one of the most significant colors in queer history.

🌈 Did You Know:

Lavender has been associated with queerness for over a century.

In the early 20th century, the phrase “lavender lads” was used as a coded way to refer to gay men.

During the Lavender Scare of the 1950s, LGBTQIA+ people were targeted and purged from government jobs.

In the 1970s, the Lavender Menace was a group of lesbian feminists fighting for inclusion in the women’s rights movement.

💡 The bullied boy wearing lavender in Mean could symbolize queer youth facing discrimination. The locker room setting mirrors real-life bullying that many LGBTQ+ people experience in school. I won't go into it here, but as some may know, Taylor references lavender several more times throughout her discography, most notably in the song Lavender Haze... and ohhh, does the sapphic lore run deep with that one.

2. Happy New Year! Blake as Dorothy & Taylor as Ariel—A Hidden Message? (2019)

Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Gigi Hadid dressed as childhood heroes to welcome the new year in 2019. Blake Lively dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Taylor Swift dressed as Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

📌 Key Visuals in the Photo:

Blake, as Dorothy, stands above Taylor on a staircase—Dorothy, historically, is a guide to self-discovery and finding home.

Taylor, as Ariel, looks upward—Ariel, like Dorothy, is a character who longs for something more, fights for change, and ultimately reclaims her power.

The placement and dynamic could symbolize Taylor’s journey toward reclaiming her voice and true self.

At first glance, this seems like a fun, nostalgic costume choice. But given Taylor’s history of layering symbolism into everything, this pairing leads to questions:

Was Blake’s Dorothy a nod to “Friend of Dorothy” symbolism and queerness?

Was Taylor’s Ariel a reference to being silenced and struggling to reclaim her voice?

💡 In the context of queerness, Ariel’s story mirrors that of the queer community who feel silenced or unable to express their true selves. Given the themes in The Wizard of Oz, and Dorothy’s role as a gay icon, Blake and Taylor’s pairing feels too thematically perfect to be a coincidence. Take a little detour with me, I feel this must be included here.

⭐Ariel’s Story as a Metaphor for Queer Identity & Taylor’s Journey

📺 Watch Here: Ariel Losing Her Voice – The Little Mermaid (1989)

📌Key Themes in The Little Mermaid

Ariel longs for a different life—she feels out of place in her world and dreams of living freely.

She sacrifices her voice in exchange for a chance to become her “true self.”

She spends much of the movie silenced, unable to communicate her thoughts and feelings.

Eventually, she fights to reclaim her voice and identity.

🌈 Did You Know:

The Little Mermaid was written by Hans Christian Andersen, who was widely believed to be queer and wrote the original story as an allegory for unrequited love and hidden identity.

Disney's The Little Mermaid was released in 1989.

Taylor Swift has frequently expressed frustration over losing control of her voice, whether in the music industry (the masters dispute) or in her personal life.

Ariel’s story could reflect Taylor’s own experiences of being silenced—either by the industry, by public perception, or by personal constraints related to queerness.

⭐Connecting Back to The Yellow Brick Road & Taylor’s Imagery

Ariel’s story in The Little Mermaid and Dorothy’s journey in The Wizard of Oz share striking parallels, both serving as allegories for self-discovery, longing, and transformation. Just as Dorothy leaves the dull, black-and-white world of Kansas in search of something greater, Ariel dreams of escaping the constraints of her underwater world, longing for a place where she can be her true self. Both heroines sacrifice a part of themselves to enter a new world—Dorothy is swept away by a tornado, while Ariel gives up her voice to walk on land. In these new realms, they face obstacles, meet guides and allies, and learn that the world they once idealized is not as simple as they thought. This theme of searching for belonging, navigating a new identity, and reclaiming personal power deeply resonates with queer narratives, making both stories enduring metaphors for LGBTQ+ self-acceptance and the journey toward authenticity.

📌 Key Lyric + Movie Quote:

“But daddy, I love him”

One of the most emotionally charged lines in The Little Mermaid comes when Ariel, desperate to be with Prince Eric, defiantly shouts this to her father.

This moment is pivotal—not just in the film, but in queer-coded readings of Ariel’s story. It represents a young woman asserting her independence, challenging authority, and risking everything for a love that is considered unacceptable.

So when Taylor Swift lifted this exact line for a song on The Tortured Poets Department in 2024, it immediately raised eyebrows.

📌 Parallel Themes:

Defying expectations – In The Little Mermaid, Ariel’s love is forbidden. In Taylor’s work, the phrase could represent a love that is misunderstood, denied, or rejected by those in power.

A plea for acceptance – Ariel isn’t just declaring love; she’s begging to be understood. Taylor using this phrase suggests a desperation to validate something others refuse to accept.

Queer Subtext – The phrase has long been used in queer narratives where love is met with opposition. Could Taylor’s use of it be a wink toward a love that’s hidden, complicated, or unapproved?

I'll do a whole analysis on Taylor's storytelling inspiration from The Little Mermaid. When I do, I will link it here.

3. ME! Out Now - April 26th, 2019

Taylor Swift's ME! music video is rich with vibrant visuals and hidden references, some of which mimic scenes from The Wizard of Oz. Taylor announced the song and music video in social media posts that stated: ME! out now... This happened on April 26th. This day is significant because it has been nationally known as Lesbian Visibility Day since 2008.

📌 Key Visual Similarities:

Skipping Toward the Rainbow: In one scene, Swift and Brendon Urie skip hand-in-hand toward a magical rainbow and towering green building, reminiscent of Dorothy and her companions heading toward the Emerald City. In this scene, they're surrounded by people in pink suits lining their path strongly resembling the poppy field from The Wizard of Oz—the final obstacle Dorothy and her friends must pass before reaching the Emerald City.

Emerald City Imagery: At the beginning of the music video, as Taylor storms out of her home and begins approaching the outside world, the interior space she passes through is similarly detailed to that of the interior of Emerald City. Once she makes it outside, the video's colorful, fantastical setting continues to evoke the land of Oz, with its bright hues and whimsical architecture.

📌 Symbolism of Glinda & Taylor’s Role in ME!:

In The Wizard of Oz, Glinda serves as Dorothy’s guide, helping her navigate Oz and ultimately leading her to self-discovery.

In ME!, Taylor plays a similarly uplifting and empowering role—celebrating individuality and self-love, much like Glinda encourages Dorothy to embrace her own inner strength.

Glinda is loved by many and known for her charm, grace, and wisdom. Taylor’s larger-than-life presence in ME! echoes that same enchanting, benevolent energy.

🌈 Queer Interpretation & “Good Witch” Symbolism:

Glinda is often associated with queerness and camp culture—her over-the-top glamor and theatricality have made her a beloved figure in LGBTQIA+ media.

Taylor’s use of pastel colors, dreamy fantasy elements, and exaggerated femininity in ME! aligns with camp aesthetics, queerness, and a deliberate embrace of joyful theatricality.

Could this be Taylor symbolically placing herself in the “Good Witch” role—a figure of guidance, encouragement, and transformation?

📌 Key Visual:

In the ME! video, Brendon Urie wears a white floral suit with a large heart pinned to his chest, reminiscent of the heart-shaped clock that the Wizard gives the Tin Man at the end of the film.

In The Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man believes he lacks a heart, but the Wizard tells him that he had one all along—he just needed a symbol to prove it to himself.

The ME! video is all about self-love, individuality, and reclaiming joy—similar to how the Tin Man realizes he was never truly heartless.

Brendon Urie’s heart could represent emotional validation, much like how the Tin Man receives proof of his capacity for love.

💡The scene could also symbolize Taylor Swift’s own journey of reclaiming love—whether for herself, her art, or even her personal identity.

This scene from the ME! music video, featuring people dressed in black tumbling through the air while clutching broken umbrellas, strongly evokes the imagery of the Wicked Witch’s flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz.

📌 Key Similarities:

Dark, Winged Figures Falling from the Sky – In The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West sends out her winged monkey army to terrorize Dorothy and her companions, swooping in from the sky. In ME!, the airborne figures dressed in black mimic that chaotic, unsettling motion.

Umbrellas as Symbolic “Wings” – The tattered black umbrellas resemble the leathery, bat-like wings of the flying monkeys, further cementing the visual connection.

💡Taylor’s rainbow-filled Lover era could be a deliberate nod to Somewhere Over the Rainbow—especially since it never explicitly referenced queerness while being deeply associated with it. I'll elaborate soon.

4. Evermore Cover: The Braided Narrative (2020)

Perhaps the most overlooked queer-coded reference comes from Evermore.

📌 Key Visual:

Braiding in poetry has been used as a technique to reflect intersecting identities, hidden truths, and fluid perspectives, making it especially relevant in queer poetry and literature.

The braided structure allows for hidden narratives, nonlinear storytelling, and parallel experiences—elements that resonate deeply with Taylor’s songwriting, especially in Evermore.

If the braid on the Evermore cover is intentional, it could symbolize interwoven themes of identity, hidden meanings, and layered storytelling—just as queer-coded poetry often does. It could also reference a famous hairstyle from a famous icon... I'll let you guess who that may be.

🌈 Did You Know:

Evermore was announced on the birthday of Emily Dickinson, a well known poet. Many scholars believe Emily Dickinson is queer and had a lifelong love affair with her childhood friend Susan Gilbert.

💡Evermore is one of Taylor’s most coded albums, with “Dorothea” being one of its bigger Easter eggs.

⭐Dorothea - Evermore (2020)

📺 Listen Here: Taylor Swift – Dorothea (Lyric Video)

Dorothea = Dorothy Gale—the parallel is undeniable.

The song describes a girl who left a small town for Hollywood, but the narrator still longs for her.

Many fans (or at least I) believe Dorothea represents Karlie Kloss, with the song reflecting a lost romantic relationship.

“It’s never too late to come back to my side.”

📌 Key Themes:

Dorothy leaves Kansas to follow the Yellow Brick Road, longing for adventure but ultimately realizing there’s no place like home.

Dorothea is about someone who leaves a small town, finds success, but is still deeply loved and missed by the narrator.

This theme of longing for someone who has moved on, feeling left behind, and struggling with what that means is a deeply queer-coded trope—one that Taylor often returns to.

I'd like to also mention, the It's Nice To Have A Friend / Dorothea mash-up that Taylor swift did on The Eras Tour in Edinburgh on June 9th, 2024. Guess who's birthday is June 10th? Dorothy Gale herself, Judy Garland. The implications of this. 🤯

📌Why Tupelo? The Yellow Brick Road, and The Ones Who Leave

I've always wondered about the significance of Tupelo, Mississippi, in this song. So, I started digging into possible connections between the narrator, the muse, and Tupelo, and—unsurprisingly—it led me to Sir Elton John. This won't be the last time I mention him, certainly not in the broader context of understanding Gaylor. There are plenty of reasons for that. But for now, humor me: assume that the ties between Taylor and Elton run deep, and follow me as I decode Tupelo in Dorothea.

I referenced this Reddit Post while deep diving Tupelo.

🌈 Did You Know:

Elton John has a song called Porch Swing in Tupelo. The song explores themes of leaving home, returning, and nostalgia—mirroring the journey Dorothy takes in The Wizard of Oz.

📺 Listen Here: Elton John - Porch Swing in Tupelo (2004)

As Porch Swing in Tupelo paints a lovely picture, Gaylor's have made a connection to an unreleased song from Taylor in 2003.

💡 Bridging This to Taylor's song, Me & Britney

📺 Listen Here: Taylor Swift - Me and Britney 

While Dorothea and Porch Swing in Tupelo focus on someone who left, longing, and nostalgia, Taylor’s unreleased song Me & Britney adds another angle to this theme.

In Me & Britney, Taylor sings:

Britney made it to Memphis, and that’s where she wanted to be.

Memphis (home of Graceland) is where Elvis went after leaving Tupelo—and his story is often framed as one of fame, longing, and isolation. Sort've a side note, but definitely ties Taylor's old music to Dorothea and aligns with the same trope. Stay with me...

💡Dorothy, Elvis, and the subject of Dorothea all followed a road that led them away from home—but was it really what they wanted?

📌 Key Lyric in Me & Britney That Feels Queer:

I was just jealous of the boy that she fell in love with.

This aligns with a classic queer storytelling trope—where attraction is framed as “jealousy” over a male love interest rather than outright romantic feelings.

💡 Final Thought:

If Dorothy realizes that Oz wasn’t what she thought it would be…

If Elvis became trapped in the fame he once sought…

If Taylor keeps returning to themes of people leaving, longing, and hidden feelings…

🌈 Could the Yellow Brick Road be a metaphor for realizing that what you were searching for was already inside you—whether that’s home, identity, or love?

5. Elton John & The Yellow Brick Road as a Queer Metaphor

🌈 Did You Know:

Elton John—one of the most famous openly gay musicians—has drawn inspiration from themes of The Wizard of Oz throughout his career.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is often interpreted as his rejection of the expectations placed on him, including those of the heterosexual, traditional lifestyle.

The song describes escaping an artificial world—one where he was expected to play a role rather than be himself.

📌 Key Lyrics:

“You know you can’t hold me forever / I didn’t sign up with you.”

“So goodbye yellow brick road / Where the dogs of society howl.”

💡 How This Relates to Taylor Swift:

If Elton saw the Yellow Brick Road as a false promise, could Taylor also be questioning the path she’s been on?

⭐Taylor Swift’s Own Yellow Brick Road: The Fame vs. Reality Conflict

📌 Key Songs That Reflect This Theme:

“The Lucky One” (Red, 2012) – A song about the dark side of fame, where the narrator envies someone who escapes it.

“Nothing New” (Red: Taylor’s Version, 2021) – A reflection on the fleeting nature of fame, mirroring the “illusion of Oz.”

“The Archer” (Lover, 2019) – Explores feelings of isolation and longing for something real beyond the performance of celebrity.

💡 The Yellow Brick Road Parallel:

Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz follows the road to what she believes will be her dream, only to find out it was all smoke and mirrors.

Elton John realized the world he was chasing wasn’t real.

Taylor has repeatedly questioned whether the life she built is truly what she wanted.

Further connections between Elton John and Taylor include the release of Elton's documentary: Elton John: It's Never Too Late on Friday December 13, 2024. Taylor Swift's birthday? December 13th. Again, there is more to say about these two, but it's going to require its own post.

6. The Most Fabulous Closets in Oz: Harry, Taylor & The Magic of Bearding

I referenced this Reddit Post for this section.

In 2021, Harry Styles dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz for his Harryween concert at Madison Square Garden, fully embracing the camp aesthetic of Oz with ruby slippers, blue gingham dress, red tights, and a Toto-filled basket. This moment was more than just a fun Halloween costume—it was a bold embrace of gender fluidity and queer-coded imagery, further aligning him with the broader queer themes of The Wizard of Oz.

📺 Watch Here: Harry Styles - Over the Rainbow - Harryween Night One

📌 How This Relates to Queerness:

Harry’s choice to dress as Dorothy plays into his broader exploration of gender nonconformity and theatrical self-expression.

The act of a male pop star dressing as one of cinema’s most famous female protagonists challenges traditional gender norms, something Harry has done consistently throughout his career.

This moment fits into a larger trend of Oz being reclaimed by queer artists as a symbol of self-discovery and belonging.

⭐The Taylor Swift Connection: A Relationship That Was More Than It Seemed? A Public Relationship with Career-Boosting Benefits

So what's the connection between Harry and Taylor you may ask? Maybe you weren't around for the pap walks and easter eggs these two gave us. Have no fear, I'm here to outline that, from a Gaylor's perspective of course.

Harry and Taylor’s highly publicized relationship in 2012-2013 came at a crucial time for both of their careers.

Taylor was transitioning from country to full-fledged pop, and aligning herself with Harry—who was breaking out as a global pop phenomenon with One Direction—helped solidify her move into a new genre.

Meanwhile, Harry was preparing for an eventual solo career and a public relationship with Taylor further cemented his status beyond being “just” a boyband member.

Their short-lived but highly visible relationship seemed almost perfectly orchestrated for media attention, which has led many fans to speculate that their pairing was a mutually beneficial bearding arrangement.

💡 The Bearding Theory:

Both Harry and Taylor have been rumored to be closeted, and many believe their relationship was staged to divert speculation away from their personal lives.

This would not be the first time high-profile celebrities have engaged in strategic PR relationships to control public perception.

If this was a double bearding scenario, it would mean both Harry and Taylor were using each other as a cover while pursuing their own private lives off-camera.

🌈 Queer Implication in the Wizard of Oz Narrative:

If Harry and Taylor’s relationship was about public image rather than personal romance, it fits into the Oz allegory perfectly.

The Wizard of Oz is about facades, illusion, and realizing the person behind the curtain isn’t what they seem.

Is Taylor revealing these hidden truths through her constant Oz references? One things for sure, these two have been creatively aligned from a distance for over a decade. Neither have gotten on a stage to profess their sexuality, but with a *sometimes* obsessive interest in the stories they tell, its hard not to see parallels in the queer undertones that have littered their work for years.

💡Take this for example: Harry Styles and Taylor Swift both have a song called Daylight. I will reference Taylor's song in the next section and will provide a deep dive into the parallels of Harry and Taylor's song in a different post. But for the sake of Oz, I must note - the chorus of Harry's song Daylight says:

If I was a bluebird, I would fly to you

Which feels pretty parallel to the lyric from Somewhere Over the Rainbow,

Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh, why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly Beyond the rainbow Why, oh why can't I?

No? Sure, okay... moving on.

7. Optimistic Voices Line by Line, Taylor’s Lyricism, & the Journey to Daylight

📺 Watch Here: The Wizard of Oz – “Optimistic Voices” & The Snow Scene

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – “Out of the Woods” (Official Music Video)

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – “Daylight” (Live From Paris)

There's a lot to unpack here. Let’s start with lyrics and move into imagery.

⭐Escaping the Darkness: Out of the Woods & The Journey to the Light

📌 Key Lyrics from Optimistic Voices

You're out of the woods, You're out of the dark, you're out of the night, Step into the sun, step into the light.

📌 Key Lyrics from Out of the Woods

Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet? Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?

📌 Key Lyrics from Daylight

I've been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night (Now I'm wide awake) And now I see daylight (I see daylight), I only see daylight (ah)

At its core, Out of the Woods is a song about living in a state of constant anxiety, uncertainty, and fear. While it has been widely interpreted as a song about a fragile, doomed relationship, when viewed through a queer lens, the song’s themes take on an even deeper meaning:

🌈 Queer Interpretation:

The fear of being found out.

The struggle of navigating a love that feels fragile and threatened.

The desperation to hold onto something that the world does not want to survive.

💡 Optimistic Voices tells the moment of reaching safety—it is the sound of emerging from a place of struggle into clarity. Out of the Woods, on the other hand, is still trapped in uncertainty, asking the question: Are we safe yet? Are we in the clear?

⭐ Where Daylight Fits in the Journey:

If Out of the Woods is about struggling to escape the fear, then Daylight is about finally arriving at a place of clarity and acceptance.

The lyric “I’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night” mirrors the journey of stepping out of the woods into the sunlight—into truth.

⭐ Stepping Into the Light: Visibility & Queer Self-Discovery

📌 Key Lyrics from Optimistic Voices

Step into the sun, step into the light.

📌 Key Lyrics from Out of the Woods

The rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming color.

📌 Key Lyrics from Daylight

You gotta step into the daylight and let it go Just let it go, let it go

🌈 Queer Interpretation:

The contrast between "black and white" and "screaming color" reflects the experience of queerness in a heteronormative world.

The “black and white” world is society’s rigid, traditional expectations.

“Screaming color” is queerness—vibrant, alive, but existing in stark contrast to what’s expected.

⭐ Daylight completes this arc:

In Out of the Woods, the sun is rising but it’s still a question of safety.

In Daylight, Taylor is fully in the sun, embracing its warmth and clarity.

It’s not just about stepping into the light—it’s about choosing to stay there.

📌 Much like the journey from Kansas to Oz, the transition from Out of the Woods → Daylight is about leaving behind a world of confusion and entering a new, golden reality.

🌈 Did You Know?

The Emerald City has often been compared to the idea of a queer utopia—a place where people who have been marginalized in the “real world” can be free. (I may have already told you this 100 times, haha)

Daylight being "golden" aligns with the Yellow Brick Road leading to Emerald City—a literal path toward truth, clarity, and belonging.

⭐ Holding On Through the Journey: The Final Push Toward Safety

📌 Key Lyrics from Optimistic Voices

Hold onto your breath, hold onto your heart, hold onto your hope, March up to that gate and bid it open.

📌 Key Lyrics from Out of the Woods

Remember when we couldn't take the heat? I walked out, I said 'I'm setting you free.'

📌 Key Lyrics from Daylight

My love was as cruel as the cities I lived in Everyone looked worse in the light.

🌈 Queer Interpretation:

Optimistic Voices is about reaching the final destination—the Emerald City—after a long, uncertain journey.

Out of the Woods describes a love that is filled with tension, fear, and the possibility of collapse at any moment.

Daylight is the final realization—that love doesn’t have to be cruel, it doesn’t have to exist in the dark, and when you step into the sun, you see things for what they truly are.

⭐ Final Thought:

Out of the Woods asks if the journey is over yet.

Daylight declares that it is.

Optimistic Voices sings the moment when you finally step into the light and let it all go.

Maybe Daylight is that moment of realization—that the fear, the hiding, the uncertainty—it was never love. Love was golden. Love was daylight. At least that was her hope for the Lover era. I will deep dive this when I write about the failed coming out of 2019.

9. Out of the Woods and the Snow That Awakens Dorothy: A Symbolic Parallel

Now let's explore how the striking visual connection between The Wizard of Oz and Taylor Swift’s Out of the Woods lies in the use of snow as a transformative and awakening force. In both stories, snow serves as an intervention—clearing a path forward and signaling a moment of clarity.

📌 Key Scene:

As Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion approach the Emerald City, they become trapped in a poppy field—a symbol of illusion, intoxication, and losing one’s way.

They begin falling into a deep sleep, overwhelmed by the enchanted flowers that prevent them from reaching their goal.

Glinda, the Good Witch, intervenes, sending a magical snowfall to neutralize the poppies’ effect and wake them up.

The moment marks a turning point—Dorothy and her friends can finally see the Emerald City clearly and continue their journey.

🌈 Did You Know:

The poppy field has often been interpreted as a metaphor for external forces that sedate or mislead people, from addiction to societal expectations.

The snowfall, then, represents a cleansing moment—a realization that breaks through illusion.

⭐The Snow in Out of the Woods: A Moment of Survival & Awakening

📌 Key Visuals:

The Out of the Woods music video follows Taylor through various brutal landscapes—fire, water, mud, and snow—each symbolizing the emotional turmoil of a doomed relationship.

The snowstorm sequence comes toward the end of the video, as Taylor collapses in exhaustion.

As she pushes through the deep snow, she appears more alone than ever—but also closer to breaking free.

At the end of the journey, she reaches the ocean and finds herself, leading to the final message: “She lost him but found herself, and somehow that was everything.”

💡 Parallels to The Wizard of Oz:

Just as Dorothy’s group was lost in a dreamlike haze, Taylor, in the Out of the Woods video, struggles through disorienting landscapes, lost and overwhelmed.

Snow acts as both an obstacle and a catalyst—it is the final challenge Taylor faces before she reaches self-discovery.

Like Dorothy waking up in the poppy field, Taylor’s emergence from the snow signals that she has survived the journey and can now move forward.

Many fans have pointed out that Taylor’s music video looks eerily similar to The Wizard of Oz's journey through different landscapes—leading up to a final realization of self.

💡The journey through these trials mirrors the queer experience of fighting through shame, fear, and external pressures to finally find one’s authentic self.

7. "Karma" Music Video: A Nod to Dorothy (2023)

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – Karma (Official Music Video)

In May 2023, Taylor released the music video for "Karma," featuring Ice Spice. The video is rich with symbolic imagery, notably a segment where Taylor embodies a character reminiscent of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Dressed in a gingham-style outfit with braided hair, she skips down a yellow brick road, evoking the classic journey to Oz. This portrayal not only pays homage to the iconic film but also reinforces the queer themes associated with it.

The "Karma" music video is replete with Easter eggs and references, with fans noting the deliberate parallels to The Wizard of Oz, further emphasizing Taylor's engagement with queer-coded imagery.

💡 This could represent Taylor realizing that the world she built for herself isn’t real—just like how Dorothy learns that Oz is an illusion. To throw in some more imagery, the hour glass plays an important role in the life or death of Dorothy, In Karma, Taylor puts her "duel self" (oh boy, what a deep rabbit hole that concept is) inside of it. Further evoking connections to running out of time, anxiety, and the long journey of waiting.

8. Karlie Kloss as Dorothy: The Chessboard & “Mastermind” Connection

Karlie Kloss’s Halloween costume as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz may seem like a simple tribute, but the details of her social media post led to potential deeper meanings—especially in relation to Taylor Swift, “Mastermind,” and black-and-white chessboard imagery.

📌 Key Visual in the Post:

In Karlie’s Halloween Instagram photo, she’s dressed as Dorothy and positioned next to a chessboard.

This small detail immediately caught fans’ attention because chess and strategic planning are key themes in Taylor Swift’s song “Mastermind.”

Karlie’s decision to post a chessboard next to herself while dressed as Dorothy is too deliberate to be ignored.

Fans speculate that this could be a nod to her connection with Taylor—whether as an inside joke, a strategic message, or an acknowledgment of their intertwined histories. As of 2025, this post has been removed from her grid. Kinda fishy if you ask me...

📌Chess as a Metaphor in “Mastermind”

📺 Watch Here: Taylor Swift – Mastermind (Lyric Video)

In Midnights, Taylor Swift’s song “Mastermind” is all about strategically orchestrating relationships and events, using chess as a metaphor.

Key Lyric:“What if I told you none of it was accidental? / And the first night that you saw me / Nothing was gonna stop me.”

The song describes a calculated, almost fated connection between two people, a theme that many have associated with Taylor’s relationships—both personal and professional.

📌Black-and-White Imagery: The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show & Eras Tour

📌 Key Visuals:

At the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Taylor Swift performed while Karlie Kloss walked the runway, and the two famously held hands on stage.

The stage floor was a black-and-white checkerboard, setting the scene for the chessboard imagery seen in Karlie’s Halloween post 10 years later, lol. I know, sounds crazy but stay with me.

In The Eras Tour, Taylor replicates the black-and-white stage design, reinforcing the symbolism of duality, strategic moves, and interconnected paths.

💡 The chessboard theme in Karlie’s post, Taylor’s “Mastermind” lyrics, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show checkerboard stage, and the Eras Tour black-and-white motifs all tie back to themes of control, fate, and strategy.

Is Karlie subtly responding to Taylor? Is this an inside joke or an intentional reference?

One thing is clear: The chess pieces are still moving. ♟���✨

🌈 Did You Know:

Black-and-white checkerboard imagery has long been used in queer-coded storytelling as a symbol of duality, secrets, and transformation.

It is often associated with hidden messages, underground queer spaces, and coded communication—just like the way queerness has been subtly signaled in art for decades.

💡The black-and-white color scheme of the chessboard and Karlie’s setting mirrors one of the most iconic cinematic transitions of all time—when Dorothy leaves the black-and-white Kansas world for the vibrant, complex, and magical world of Oz.

⭐Black-and-White Transitions: From Kansas to Oz & Taylor’s Career

📺 Watch Here: The Wizard of Oz (1939) – The Moment Dorothy Enters Oz

📌 Key Moment in the Film:

The first 20 minutes of The Wizard of Oz are filmed in sepia-toned black and white, representing Dorothy’s dull, restrictive reality.

The moment she arrives in Oz, the world explodes into Technicolor, symbolizing her awakening, self-discovery, and entrance into a more complex reality.

⭐ How This Relates to Taylor:

The black-and-white Kansas vs. Oz transition mirrors Taylor’s career transformation.

Many interpret Taylor’s use of black-and-white motifs as representing her “Kansas” era (the media’s constructed, controlled version of her) versus her true, colorful, more authentic self (Oz).

Karlie’s chessboard post reinforces this theme of strategy, hidden messages, and transitions between different realities.

10. The Tortured Poets Department & The Aesthetic of Kansas in The Wizard of Oz

For this section, I heavily referenced this Reddit post.

📺 Visual References:

Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department (Concept Aesthetics) TTPD Announcement Video

The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Kansas Scenes Opening Scene of The Wizard of Oz

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) era is characterized by a stark, desaturated, grayscale aesthetic, heavily focused on themes of melancholy, confinement, and longing. This muted, dreamlike quality bears a striking resemblance to the sepia-toned depiction of Kansas in The Wizard of Oz—a world of restriction, where one longs for escape but also finds deep-rooted meaning.

📌 Kansas in The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy’s life in Kansas is drab, isolated, and full of longing for something more.

The world is monochrome, reflecting both emotional and physical constraints.

The tornado serves as a rupture—transporting Dorothy from a limited reality into a world of heightened color and discovery.

📌 TTPD Aesthetic

Taylor’s album visuals are stark, black-and-white, evoking a feeling of nostalgia, loss, and self-reflection.

The concept of being “trapped” in a poetic department mirrors Dorothy’s confinement on a Kansas farm—both feel like places where creativity is stifled or existence is dull.

Fans have noted the “literary sadness” of TTPD—it embodies the idea of a writer trapped in their own melancholy, longing for something beyond the grayscale world they inhabit.

💡 Queer Interpretation:

Just as Dorothy dreams of escaping Kansas for something more vivid and fulfilling, TTPD could represent a moment of longing before stepping into a fuller identity.

The monochrome aesthetic could symbolize repression or living in a constrained world—before fully embracing one’s truth.

If The Wizard of Oz is a metaphor for queerness, then is TTPD the period before Taylor’s own “tornado moment”?

📌 Key Lyrics from The Tortured Poets Department

But you awaken with dread Pounding nails in your head But I've read this one where you come undone I chose this cyclone with you

Nod to waking up (as Dorothy does in the movie)

Nod to reading (reading about the journey which is undertaken in the Wizard of Oz

Nod to the cyclone (need I say more? Fine, I will.)

The Tornado as a Symbol of Disruption & Change

📌 How Tornadoes Function in The Wizard of Oz

The tornado represents a violent rupture in reality—breaking Dorothy out of the mundane and sending her somewhere new.

It is both terrifying and necessary—it destroys her former world but also leads to her greatest self-discovery.

📌 How This Relates to TTPD

If Kansas = TTPD, then where is Taylor’s tornado?

Could TTPD represent a moment of painful self-awareness before a transformation?

If Taylor follows the narrative structure of The Wizard of Oz, then what comes after TTPD could be a transition into something entirely new—a moment of “color” after the storm.

Visuals At The Beginning of The Eras Tour:

When considering this, I wonder if the intent is to draw attention to the era in which Taylor really began overtly queer coding, Lover, with the dark, swirling cyclones behind her? The screen visual feels like another acknowledgement of Kansas.

If this could be so, and it is true that Taylor connects Lover to Oz and TTPD to Kansas, it is worth noting theories that the costumes for the The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived segment of the TTPD set at The Eras Tour could be a callback to the ME! music video but with all the color removed.

📺 Watch Here: ME! Live From The Billboard Music Awards

In the ME! music video, Swift dons a pastel marching band uniform over a crystal-encrusted bodysuit, complemented by patent boots. This ensemble aligns with the video's overall colorful aesthetic, symbolizing themes of individuality and self-empowerment.

"ME!" Music Video: The colorful uniforms and lively marching underscore a message of joy, unity, and self-celebration.

During the Eras Tour performance of The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, she wore a white military-style jacket featuring epaulettes and frogging, accompanied by a synchronized marching routine with her backup dancers, who played drums. The act concluded dramatically, with Swift and her ensemble collapsing on stage, symbolizing the song's themes of vulnerability and introspection.

Eras Tour Performance: The white military jacket and structured marching reflect a more somber and introspective tone, culminating in a staged death that signifies the song's exploration of personal struggle and defeat.

📌 Key Lyrics from TTPD:

Taylor Swift’s use of animal imagery in The Tortured Poets Department carries striking parallels to The Wizard of Oz, specifically through references to the lion, tiger, and bear—three creatures that are deeply embedded in the Oz mythology.

These references mirror the iconic phrase from The Wizard of Oz:

“Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh my!”

In the film, Dorothy and her friends chant this line as they enter the haunted forest, anticipating unseen dangers. Each animal in the story represents a distinct archetype:

The Cowardly Lion – Symbolizes fear, insecurity, and the search for courage.

The Tiger – Represents strength, intensity, and a predatory nature.

The Bear – Associated with both protection and untamed aggression, embodying both nurturing and destruction.

💡 How This Relates to TTPD

The “coward claimed he was a lion” lyric in LOML suggests a false bravado—someone pretending to be strong but ultimately lacking courage, much like the Cowardly Lion’s arc in The Wizard of Oz.

The lyric “Way to go, tiger, you look ridiculous and you have no idea” suggests mocking someone who thinks they are strong or in control.

The bear in The Bolter represents the tension between control and freedom, echoing how Dorothy’s companions struggle with their own limitations.

11. Lions, Tigers, and Football Players, Oh My!

Follow me into this theory where I explore the idea that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are both on that journey together—not as a romantic couple, but as two people navigating a carefully constructed public image while protecting their private truths.

🌈 Queer Allegory:

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy finds her people on the road—each struggling with their own identity crisis.

Similarly, if Taylor and Travis are indeed “walking the Yellow Brick Road” as a protective duo, then this relationship could symbolize two individuals working together to maintain a shared safety net in the public eye.

💡 Possible Implications:

If Travis is queer (or in a long-term private relationship with Ross Travis), and Taylor is also closeted, then their relationship becomes a shield—allowing them both to exist more freely behind the scenes.

This would align with other known Hollywood “double bearding” arrangements, where two public figures strategically date to deflect speculation.

⭐ The Kansas City Connection: From Allegory to Reality

📌 Key Connection:

The Wizard of Oz is set in Kansas, a place Dorothy longs to escape but ultimately learns to appreciate.

Now, Taylor is literally in a public relationship with one of the biggest Kansas City figures in the world.

💡 If Kansas has always been a metaphor for longing, escape, and self-realization in Taylor’s work, then does this relationship mark a return to something safe and stable, rather than a new romantic revelation?

Follow the Yellow Brick Road… to Arrowhead?

I just wanna note that I do not believe the Cornelia Street lyric below was premeditated to be referential to the Tayvis relationship, however, it's always peculiar how Taylor's life so stunningly imitates art.

As if the street lights pointed in an arrowhead Leading us home

Where is Dorothy trying to go? HOME! KANSAS!!

📌 How This Theory Could Fit the Timeline:

Khalen Saunders (former Chiefs player) is the brother of Kameron Saunders, one of Taylor’s backup dancers and close friends.

The theory suggests that Travis and Taylor may have been introduced through Kameron via Khalen, setting up a mutually beneficial dynamic.

If this is true, it would mean Taylor and Travis’s public debut in July 2023 was premeditated long before the world caught on.

Aside from the Khalen + Kam connection, it is worth noting that Karlie, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, has publicly supported the Kansas City Chiefs and Travis specifically.

In May 2022, Travis Kelce attended a Formula 1 cocktail party hosted by Karlie Kloss in Miami. This event indicates that they were acquainted prior to Travis's relationship with Taylor Swift.

🌈 Queer & Symbolic Interpretation:

In many ways, this fits a classic queer narrative of finding safety in partnerships that protect one’s truth.

The Wizard of Oz is about longing for a place where you are safe, understood, and able to be yourself.

Could Travis and Taylor’s relationship represent a way for them to exist more freely within their respective closets—while the world watches a different story?

⭐ Why This Relationship Works—Regardless of the Truth

Whether this theory is correct or not, one thing is undeniable: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have a public dynamic that feels mutually beneficial in ways that go beyond romance.

📌 What Travis Provides for Taylor:

A strong, masculine, straight-passing relationship to appease media and conservative backlash.

Genuine public adoration—he is protective of her and supportive of her success.

A sense of stability and safety in a relationship that does not threaten her independence.

📌 What Taylor Provides for Travis:

Elevated status outside of sports, making him one of the most visible athletes in the world.

A PR shield—any speculation about his private life is drowned out by their high-profile romance.

Increased crossover appeal—his branding now extends to pop culture in a way it never did before.

💡 If they are truly bearding for each other, it would mean they are not only protecting their personal lives, but also strengthening their own public legacies in the process.

This theory presents a compelling reframing of Taylor and Travis’s relationship as something more complex than just romance.

🌈 Is this truly Taylor’s Dorothy moment—finding her “home” with Travis in Kansas City? 🌈 Or is this another carefully constructed part of the larger story, walking the Yellow Brick Road together, knowing full well the truth that lies at the end?

Maybe, just like Dorothy, they already know the truth—but they have to walk the path anyway.

Conclusion: “Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain”

Taylor Swift’s repeated return to The Wizard of Oz—through imagery, lyricism, and visual storytelling—feels deliberate, layered, and unshakable. For over a decade, she has woven Oz into her art, a recurring thread in a larger tapestry of hidden meanings.

So what is she really telling us?

Is Oz a metaphor for fame—an illusion, an Emerald City that’s never as real as it seems? Is it about queerness—the journey of self-discovery, longing, and finding a chosen family? Is it a hidden love story—one written between the lines, only visible to those who know where to look?

The answer? Maybe all of them.

Taylor Swift is still following the Yellow Brick Road. And for those of us who have been paying attention, one thing is certain:

🌈 There’s more to the story than meets the eye.

[beauty-funny-trippy]

Even now, in the 21st century, a rising, hate-filled bigotry reaches into the past and has revived the cruelty of archaic, Bronze Age laws.

The Weaponization of Laws— In Africa, 31 countries have criminalized consensual same-sex sexual activity, despite it being a clear violation of human rights. Amnesty International is calling on African states and governments to comply with international or regional human rights laws and basic principles of human dignity and equality. “Across Africa, LGBTQ persons find themselves contending with a disturbing regression of progress. ...Arbitrary arrests and detentions have become all too common, treating the mere act of being oneself as a criminal offense. In some places, the death penalty looms as a terrifying spectre, a brutally unjust punishment for simply being who they are. We face what can only be described as a deepening crisis of homophobic lawfare.” said Tigere Chagutah of Amnesty International.

Bishop asks Trump to Show Mercy to LGBTQ People and Migrants @ashleymilesphil, an African lgbtq refugee, puts the Bishop’s call for mercy into perspective: "The recent plea from a U.S. bishop asking President Trump to show mercy to LGBTQ migrants is a powerful reminder of the critical need for compassion and humanity in addressing the struggles of queer communities worldwide. While this call is directed toward the United States, it resonates deeply with us LGBTQ refugees in East Africa who face unimaginable persecution simply for existing. "In our countries, being LGBTQ is illegal and often punishable by imprisonment or death. We live under constant threat not only from the law but also from hostile communities, violent attacks, and systemic discrimination that leaves us without shelter, healthcare, or basic human dignity. Many of us were forced to flee our homes and families, only to find that refugee camps like Kakuma and Gorom offer no true sanctuary. Here, we are silenced, beaten, and in some cases, killed for daring to be ourselves. "We urge the global community, including faith leaders, activists, and allies, to amplify our voices and call for justice. Mercy is not enough if it does not come with action. We need decriminalization, protection, access to basic services, and the chance to live without fear. "Please do not forget us LGBTQ refugees in East Africa who are still crying out for solidarity. We need your voices to speak up for us. "Together, we can call on governments, organizations, and individuals to move beyond mercy to meaningful action. Let’s strive for a world where no one is criminalized for love, and every LGBTQ person, no matter where they are, has the right to live in freedom and dignity." Signed, ~LGBTQ Refugees in East Africa Please consider showing support for the refugees in East Africa by donating at the link below. They may be thousands of miles away, but we, all of us, are bound together by our humanity, not by our proximity. Every single donation, no matter how small, helps.

If you can't donate, please consider sharing this post on your blog. Because Human Rights do not simply arise by themselves. They spring from actions, and the will of individuals, like us, to make them happen. My sincere THANK YOU for taking the time to read this. And perhaps now is a good time for those of us not living in fear, to feel a moment of quiet gratitude.

[gayloringinplainsight]

"Rights are being stripped from basically everyone who isn't a straight white cisgender male," she tells Vogue, when asked about why she chose to, all of a sudden, stand up for LGBTQ+ rights. "I didn't realize until recently that I could advocate for a community that I'm not a part of."

Source: https://www.out.com/news/2019/8/08/taylor-swift-says-shes-straight-despite-all-bisexual-rumors#toggle-gdpr

I was waiting for this to come through my inbox lol. (There was more then one ask about this but I'm only responding to the first.)

There's lots to unpack here but the first and foremost thing is: She doesn't actually say here, "I'm straight." It was a perfect opportunity. It was the ideal conversation. She punted. Why?

Why did she instead give this vague, circuitous, carefully couched answer?

She calls out communities encompassing sexuality, race, and gender, followed by saying, "a community that I'm not a part of." There are lots of communities that she could have been referring to, but she crafted the sentence in such a way that makes it unclear which one. She could have been talking about the trans community. She could have been talking about the poc community. She could have been talking about the ace community. She could have been talking about the gay male community. There are lots of possibilities. In this carefully worded sentence, she deliberately avoided naming the specific community she's talking about.

Another thing to consider is that many, many closeted people don't consider themselves part of the queer community. They don't feel like they belong because they're not out and proud. And even once people come out, it often still takes time before they feel like they're part of the queer community. That was certainly my personal experience. Cara Delevingne said something similar in her Hulu show when discussing her own coming out.

Let's move on. The link anon provided isn't the source. It's an article quoting the source. The actual source is the 2019 Vogue cover article. And the full article is important because there are lots of interesting things that give context to this quote.

First, there's a great deal of conversation about gay stuff and lgbtq+ rights. And the writer makes a point of saying about this subject matter that Taylor seems to enjoy that part of the conversation "as much as she’d enjoy a root canal." Wouldn't a straight ally be eager to discuss this? They would. And a closeted queer person would be uncomfortable and panicking at the thought of having to talk so blatantly about this subject. The writer also makes a point of saying that once the conversation changes to music, Taylor lights up and her demeanor and speech patterns relax dramatically.

The other important context that the Vogue article discusses is Taylor's very long history of supporting lgbtq+ rights. Everything from the Mean mv of a gay boy being bullied to the "boys and boys and girls and girls" line in WTNY to donations to lgbtq+ organizations to giving out queer awards to queer people to dedicating Dress to Loie Fuller, an openly gay artist. There are plenty of other examples of Taylor advocating for the queer community that aren't mentioned. All the way back in 2008 she participated in the LOGO queer anti-bullying PSA. In 2009 she was in Seventeen magazine taking a stand against the slaying of a teenager for being gay.

Why is this important? Because it proves that Taylor is lying in the quote in question. "I didn't realize until recently that I could advocate…" girl yes you did. You've been advocating for years and years at this point. She's lying. She's lying. She's covering herself up. She's hiding in the closet and hoping desperately that no one notices.

And this isn't the first time she's done this either. During the 1989 press tour she gave an interview where she was asked about the "And you can want who you want / Boys and boys and girls and girls" line. As the interviewer is starting to speak about this, a look of pure panic immediately takes over Taylor's face:

And then she starts stumbling around trying to give a coherent answer. At one point she stutters out, "And also I wrote this song, um, I wrote this song, kind of, kind of following, the, uh, when gay marriage became legal in New York." This interview was in October 2014. Gay marriage had been legal in New York since June 2011. Sooo three years later is "kind of following." Right. Sure, Taylor. Nice closeting. You really nailed it.

Okay let's review. She doesn't actually say she's straight even though this was a perfect opportunity to do so. She doesn't name the actual community she's talking about, giving herself cover if she ever comes out. She's closeted and probably doesn't think she's part of the queer community anyways. She full-on lies about not knowing she can advocate for others. And the writer states Taylor seems deeply uncomfortable talking about lgbtq+ things even though the context of the article was that blondie wanted to make it clear how much of an ally she is.

None of this remotely adds up to hetero. And none of this comes even close to Taylor saying that she's straight.

[hellomynameisbisexual]

Understanding bisexuality is knowing bisexuality is not a phase or a stepping stone. It's a valid sexual orientation, representing attraction to more than one gender. However, bisexual individuals often face discrimination, not just from the straight community, but sadly, more often from within the LGBTQ+ community as well. This is called biphobia and it leads to bierasure. The invisible battle of Biphobia is the fear or hatred of bisexual people, often manifesting as harmful stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Bierasure, on the other hand, is the tendency to ignore, remove, falsify, or reexplain evidence of bisexuality in history, academia, news media, and other primary sources. How can people help to end biphobia and bierasure as allies, we can help fight to end these harmful behaviors. Here's how:

1. Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about bisexuality, the challenges faced by bisexuals, and the harmful effects of biphobia and bierasure. Share your knowledge with others, especially those who may hold misconceptions about bisexuality.

2. Speak Up: Don't stay silent when you witness biphobia or bierasure. Challenge harmful stereotypes and stand up for bisexual individuals in both the straight and LGBTQ+ communities.

3. Support Bisexual Individuals: Be there for your bisexual friends and family members. Let them know that you see them, you support them, and you're fighting for them.

4. Promote Bisexual Visibility: Share and celebrate stories, art, and media by and about bisexual individuals. This can help combat bierasure by showing that bisexual people exist and their experiences are valid.

So join the bisexual community in this fight we need to act urgently to end biphobia and bierasure amongst other things as well. It's time to stand up, speak out, and show your support for the bisexual community. Share this post, start a conversation, and let's make a difference together for a better place for bisexuals.

[leikeliscomet]

A Brief Look at Stem(me) History

Wanted to know more about Black lesbian identities and I couldn't find a lot on Tumblr or Twitter so I did some research on stem/stemme myself. I'm not involved in queer discourse like that but I've noticed stemme being compared with futch both positively an negatively. The term "futch" is a mash up of butch and femme and the OG Futch Scale was posted 17th February 2011. In 2015, it got posted to Tumblr and became a meme, then an accidental "guide" on lesbian identity. Regardless of stances pro-futch or anti-futch I wanted to find info on stem/stemme as a Black lesbian identity for gender and gender expression. The modern definition of a stem/stemme is a Black lesbian whose gender expression and mannerisms fall between stud and femme. I've managed to find definitions not only supporting this but also definitions predating the futch scale, both pre and post meme version:

"Stem – A person whose gender expression falls somewhere between a stud and a femme.  (See also ‘Femme’ and ‘Stud’.)" Stud is defined as "An African-American and/or Latina masculine lesbian.  Also known as ‘butch’ or ‘aggressive’." (John Jay College of Criminal Justice LGBTQ+ Terminology, Eli R. Green, 2003-2004)

"Stemm A stemm is a gay/lesbian female who dresses like a guy, and dresses like a girl. Person 1: Look at that girl, she looks like a dude with all those guy clothes on, she has to be a stud Person 2: Well she was wearing girly clothes yesterday, so I thought she was a femm Person 3: Actually she's a stemm, she's wears boy clothes sometimes, and girl clothes other times" (Urban Dictionary definition of Stemm by user JenniferHill, November 8th 2009)

"A lesbian, who identifies as a Stemme, retains traits from both Femme and Stud/ Butch lesbians. Stemmes are in the center of the lesbian spectrum of classification and identities. Therefore, it is considered natural or common for Stemme lesbians to share the same behaviors as women of two diverse identity groups. Often times, the Stemme identity is viewed as the “transitional” stage of lesbianism, when a lesbian woman goes from being a Femme to a Stud/ Butch, or (on rear occasions) from a Stud/ Butch to a Femme... *In this blog the characteristic and behavioral difference between a Femme and a Stud is conjoined. The way a Femme or a Stud dresses is not the only way she can be identified. They can also be distinguished by their attitudes, actions and the way they interact with other people. A Stemme is the in-between identity of a Stud and Femme. She is apart of both groups and her identity is subject to change at anytime. A Stemme identity is often referred to as the transitional stage; however, some lesbian women remain a Stemme because they enjoy representing male and female dominance." (Lesbian Identity: Stemme, Nell S., 6th Nov 2009)

"'one who could switch up one day, she could be a femme and other occasions dress like she has a li’l hood, li’l ghetto inside her; a stemme –  part femme part stud a tomboy'" (STORY OF INTEREST: Lesbian Speaks Out, Dominica News Online, April 12th 2010)

"Stemmes presented themselves one day as femme and another day as stud; as such, they were visibly unrecognisable unless they divulged their gender identity. Stemmes expose the amorphous nature of gender identity and are invisible – silenced, ostracised or prescribed a gender identity. Many participants refused to recognise that stemmes existed and instead described them as confused. As Shane (age 22) admitted: ‘Sometimes they [studs and femmes] think that we’re confused. We don’t know what we want to be.’ Stemmes show that personal identity claims were often at odds with community perceptions of identity." (Good gay females and babies' daddies: Black lesbian community norms and the acceptability of pregnancy, Sarah J. Reed, Robin Lin Miller, Maria T. Valenti & Tina M. Timm, 21st April 2011)

"Stem, described as a cross between or combination of stud and femme, is a label that was used to refer to a lesbian that presented both masculine and feminine traits and characteristics. Short Dawg said, 'A stem, for me, is a little mixture of a lot of different things. One day you can be super feminine, and the next day you can be not so feminine.'" (Labelling, Butch, Femme Dyke Or Lipstick, Aren't All Lesbians The Same?: An Exploration Of Labels And "Looks" Among Lesbians In The U.S. South, Danielle Kerr, 2013)

Videos

Who has it harder in the world of lesbians? [studs? stems? or fems?}, iRoqStarStemme, 10th Jan 2011

WTH is a STEM??, AmbersCloset, 1st Feb 2013

The Black Lesbian Handbook: The Stem, Channel 4, 9th Feb 2015

There's a lot more I found and I'll post each article and video separately because they all go into more detail but tl;dr;

Stem(me) is an identity coined by Black lesbian spaces

Stem(me) mainly follows stud/femme dynamics rather than butch/femme (but can reference it)

Stem(me) predates the futch scale meme

Stem(me) is defined by clothing but also behaviours, so it can be a form of Black gender expression or gender itself

[umlewis]

Hamilton Says Ralf Schumacher's Coming-Out Sends "Positive Message"

Lewis Hamilton says Ralf Schumacher's revelation that he is in a same-sex relationship is a "positive message" for Formula 1, but feels more has to be done to promote inclusivity. Six-time F1 race winner Schumacher made the announcement on social media this week, posting an image of himself and his business manager, Étienne, with the words: "The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything." Schumacher posted another photo of himself with his partner a day later, saying: "Many thanks for the many congratulations and comments. We are very happy and thank you all." The younger brother of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is the fourth driver to come out in F1's history, and the first to do so having competed in the 21st Century. It follows Mike Beuttler, who drove privately-entered Marches in F1 between 1971 and 1973; Lella Lombardi, the first female driver to score a point, in 1975; and Mario de Araujo Cabral, who came out almost fifty years after the last of his five F1 race starts in 1964.

F1 drivers were asked in Hungary for their thoughts on Schumacher's decision and were full of support for the ex-Jordan, Williams, and Toyota driver, who made 180 starts between 1997 and 2007. Hamilton, who has championed LGBTQ+ rights and raced with the six-colored pride flag painted on his helmet in races staged in nations where homosexuality is illegal, said: "I think within sports it still has a long way to go. It's one thing saying that it's accepted, but it's another thing to make sure that people feel comfortable in the environment. This is a male-dominated space and, as far as I know, he is one of the first to publicly be open. I think we are very inclusive within our team, but I think the sport does need to continue to do more to help people feel more comfortable; to help women more welcomed in this space. I know there is a lot more to do." When pressed whether Schumacher's decision showed a change in attitude, Hamilton pointed to his and Sebastian Vettel's decision to support the LGBTQ+ community at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, against a backdrop where the nation's government was looking to pass laws banning the teachings of LGBTQ+ issues to under-18s.

The Mercedes driver added: "I don't know if he felt he wasn't able to say it in the past, but I think it just shows that we are at a time when finally we can take that step and don't have to fear. So far it's got positive feedback from people, but it's a different time and it's changed who we are, and it's all started from Seb and I standing on the grid here, fighting against all the governments that are here, and in Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. And if Ralf felt that he was going to be able to do those things perhaps today, it may have shifted his mind, and even him taking that step sent such a positive message. And race drivers have got to do the same, and we need more of these people to be able to do that." When asked what more F1 could do, Hamilton added: "It's a good question. I don't know if I can come up with a solution off the top of my head, but I do know, more often than not, it's about conversation, it's about dialogue with key stakeholders. It's about how we're analysing how the accessibility is. It's getting information from people who do or don't feel included. It's engaging the community. It's easy to do. You could do a questionnaire for every single person that's here, and just have a few questions and just ask them honestly how they feel and what they feel could be done. There's a lot that you could do. But it's firstly speaking about it, rather than ignoring that it's an issue, and having a lot more of the priorities to bring it up and actually set some people a task and going about how can we make people feel."

[kingconia]

Hiii I love you writing so much <3

I would love to see the housewardens with a bi S/O. How would then react? (gn please)

A/N: Oh, as a bisexual, I loved working on this one.

(Beware: it contains my personal headcanons about some worldbuilding and different characters orientation. It is merely my vision—you have all rights to disagree.)

GN!READER COMING OUT AS BISEXUAL TO THE HOUSEWARDENS AND HOW THEY REACT

Riddle Rosehearts. ❤️

— ”Wait, what do you mean you are bisexual? So, you can speak two languages or what?”

— Genuinely apologising here, but I believe that he has no idea about LGBTQ+ community. You need to explain him more about it;

— I feel like he knows the basics like the fact people could date people their gender, but overall everything you say means nothing to him;

— Though, I also think that because of his deprivation in the social contact with people—and because I don't think his mother had ever spoke with him about romantical love in general—he has no prejudices about it;

— (I also headcanon that later on he defines himself as asexual, but it is just my vision—);

— So, Riddle attentively listens to all of your explanations, thanks you for the trust, and accepts you easily.

Leona Kingscholar. 💛

— Firstly, I headcanon Leona as the open bisexual. And secondly, I like to imagine that Afterglow Savanna is a very progressive place to live in. They are highly feministic as we saw already, and, I think they are very LGBTG+ supportive community;

— Because of that, I also think that Leona had no idea that not everyone are so supportive. That coming out could be a dangerous and unnerving thing;

— Imagine coming out to him, only to see him shrugging the unbothered king he is...

— But! The moment you tell him about it, or about your genuine concerns about sharing it with him, Leona fixes his mistake by comforting you;

— And, oh, I think he would love taking you on trips to the Afterglow Savanna, so you get to see how accepting and free his people are;

— (Lmao, I think that sometimes both of you could just lazily slump over each other, and checking out random people in the crowd, because why not?)

Azul Ashengrotto. 🩵

— Oh, I think that Azul is very touched that he was shared with this kind of information;

— He is aware how judgmental the world can be, and that sometimes, sharing with this even with your closest friends and family could be hard;

— And, Azul knows that most of the people would never trust him with these things. So, he accepts your coming out as something especially valuable for many reasons;

— I feel like he would be the ”embarrassingly supportive parent” type of person, though. Like the one, who buys you awkward t-shirts and cups with bisexual flags;

— Which might or might not to be followed by the stupid puns;

— If you ask him about his preferences, he would probably try to pull out the ”I am Y/n-sexual” card.

Kalim Al-Asim. 🧡

— When it comes to Scalding Sands, I kind of see them to the the opposite of the Savanna. Which means that I see their community as the old-fashioned one, with conservative ways of thinking;

— So, for Kalim I have two possible scenarios, that are quite contradictory?

— Scenario number one: Kalim is clueless about all of this stuff—much like Riddle, but even worse—and he is not very sure about his own preferences;

— However, he is willing to research about it more—with your guiding hand, of course—and you can be assured that he will support you, even despite views of his country about this matter;

— In the second one I see him as a closet bisexual, who tries to keep it quiet for an obvious reasons;

— Which leads to him, supporting you well. I also think, he would be an active fighter for LGBTQ+ rights, often participating in the Gay Pride.

Vil Schoenheit. 💜

— Well, he works among models, actors, singers and a lot of different starts;

— Most of people in there are either friendly, or the part of the community theirselves, and with Vil practically growing up among them, it is only logical that he is not homophobic;

— I love to think that he is the part of the LGBTQ+ community himself, though, I don't have a specific headcanon for him;

— But... I think, he is in the closet as well;

— Don't get me wrong, but Vil is a very private type of star. He likes to keep everything personal in the secret, and such things could easily became a hot topic in the social media;

— However, when you confess to him about being bisexual, he is instantly very supportive, and comes out to you in return. You can count on him as much as he counts on you.

Idia Shroud. 💙

— I actually headcanon him as aroace, that is why I am having a hard time writing romantic works with his character, but let's ignore this;

— Oh, Idia is a child of internet. More to say, he is a fandom person. There is no way, he had never read fanfics on Ao3, and had his own pairings, lmao;

— I also headcanon him as that one type of guy, who ships his classmates, but he would be strangely accurate with that;

— Nevertheless, I think he is so absorbed in the virtual world and his circle of online friends, that he tends to forget that not all the world is gay and that homophobic people exist???

— So, when you coming out to him, he just... Shrugs. Like, hey, you are not special?

— It is up to you if you laugh about it and take his reaction as it is, or point out to him that you were nervous about it. In the second option, he will apologise and reassure you that everything is fine. But the result in all the same, he accepts you.

Malleus Draconia. 💚

— ”Wait, what do you mean you are bisexual? So, you can speak two languages or what?” X2

— But, consider this: I headcanon that all fae are queer;

— So, Malleus might not know about labels, but he grew up in the place, where everyone is gay, so...

— He finds it fascinating—and annoying—how different humal culture is from what he knows. Malleus also find a hard time understanding why anyone would hate people for loving someone;

— He quickly reassures you that it is absolutely normal, and he wouldn't care less. He loves you so much!! Please don't worry!! (Ha-ha, Lilia had a crush on both of my parents, so—);

— ...And I also think that just like Azul, he would buy a very cringe merch. Like t-shirts with ”My Lover Is Bisexual!” or ”BI proud!” shit, lmao. He thinks it is sweet and hilarious, and you can't do anything about it. Sorry.

[rural-punk-realness]

What is Rural Punk?

i have decided to coin a new phrase for a subculture and movement that i have seen people take place in but not give a name.

I do not just mean punks who live in rural areas, although they very much as included.

Rural Punk is a term I use for the lifestyle of minorities who are isolated from others, as well as resources they need to live. This can mean people living in literally rural areas but also people who are kept separated from their necessary support structures and resources. People like this often stick out like a sour thumb and their existence alone is seen as being alternative and going against polite society, making them "punk" even if they don't dress punk or listen to the music. This is a separate subculture from the music scene, though i am sure it will overlap. This movement is designed to include and center the voices of People of Color, as they are often ingnored when discussing rural and southern environments.

How do i be rural punk? heres some rules and examples

be anti-authoritarian

think of that guy in your town who knows where all the speed traps and cop hiding spots are

dont report people for drug usage. That person going to prison wont fix anything

protest when injustice happens in your community

don't report shop lifters

2. honor and respect nature

dont litter

reduce, reuse, recycle. DIY is an essential part of punk

document nature around you via drawing, painting or photography

be kind to animals

3. serve your fellow man

volunteer

advocate for others

listen to people talking about their experiences

speak up for, not over

vote in local elections

4. try to make your community better by spreading inclusivity and acceptance in hostile places

lgbtq+ clubs

organizing Black history events, especially if it's illegal to cover in school in your state

book clubs with diverse authors

[tirfpikachu]

whats a tirf

a tirf is a trans-inclusive/nuanced radical feminist!

many of us tirfs have been harmed by both normie tra spaces and normie radfem spaces, so we want our own corner. many of us are detrans, trans, or have a lot of trans friends we cherish, and we're building a corner of the radfem community dedicated to figuring out the increasingly bothersome issues between the feminist community & the lgbt community and boosting all misogyny-affected voices.

nuancefems - radfems who are often shamed for their nuanced takes, especially but not exclusively on tra/lgbt topics - in general might agree with us on a lot of things, but tirfs are those who focus a significant part of their activism on tra-radfem relations and actively fixing all the rampant issues between the two communities. we deeply care about all misogyny-affected people, homophobia-affected people, exclusive same-sex attracted folks and all gnc people. we are against the rampant misogyny & homophobia of tra spaces, while also not believing in the typical terf rhetoric and demonization of dysphoric people & trans/nonbinary-identified gnc people. we believe that despite what mainstream lgbtq/tra spaces may have forced on us, it'll always be essential to discuss sex-based ("agab" based, anti-ofab/female) oppression, and homosexual (what you may call exclusive afab4afab & amab4amab) rights in feminism. we also believe that in our tirfy corner of radical feminism, it's important to discuss the complex experiences that trans people may have under the heteropatriarchy and support dysphoric people and try to find productive solutions to all these struggles. we also try to educate more tras on what radical feminism actually is.

for us, we use male to mean what you'd call amab or tma, but we'd call male people omab as sex is observed, not assigned, unless it was done so wrongly in intersex/dsd cases. and ofc female = afab/ofab. while trans men might be ofab, or female, they are still men in the gender category or strongly align with it due to dysphoria. even if they aren't transitioned, we as tirfs see their dysphoric experience as often being different than normie female experiences and deserving proper gendering and accommodations. the same of course goes for trans women who are omab/male yet also often transition into facing misogyny, thus very much needing feminism & deserving their voices heard as well; and even if they don't transition, they still have dysphoric gnc experiences that can have them face horrific harm, and by existing as gnc, as transfems, they are going against the patriarchy by aligning with the "lower" class. transmascs who haven't transitioned yet or never plan to are also still deviating from the path set ahead for female/ofab people as well, and the experience of dysphoria - social and/or physical - is still often very debilitating and deserving of analysis and compassion from the tirfy side of radblr.

we tirfs may talk a lot about gnc and trans topics, but we care first and foremost about misogyny-affected individuals in our radical feminism. we still deeply care about gnc, trans & detrans people as well though, and believe that hearing them out can often provides us valuable information that may help us better understand the patriarchy. we believe in tangible experience: whoever faces the blunt of gncphobia - including transmisogyny - should speak on it the loudest, and whoever is born into facing misogyny from a young age due to their female body, or who has experienced tangible misogyny in their day-to-day life, should have their voices boosted on those specific issues in tirf spaces. others should learn to be good allies. if someone is marginalized one way and not the other, they still need to put in the work and become a strong ally, not just idly stand by.

sex-based oppression is something only ofab/female people face (and intersex ppl in some cases). by this i mean misogyny from birth or even before birth, facing childhood misogyny, and misogyny related to female bodies such as genital mutilation, reproductive misogyny, medical misogyny against female people specifically, historical misogyny and its long-lasting effects on female folks, sexual abuse and slavery meant specifically towards female-bodied people, and all abuse involving the person's femaleness in ways that don't include non-intersex male people; transfems might face related misogyny if they're assumed to be female, but if it refers to female functions they do not have this is misdirected misogyny. in the same vein as how transmasc people who transition and are still feminine might face horrific transmisogyny if assumed to have a gnc male body, they usually know it is misdirected, conditional transmisogyny. it can obviously still be incredibly harmful, but in this case you are still not the intended target. and for example with abortion rights it would be highly inappropriate for transfems to center themselves in the discussion when they cannot truly face this form of misogyny.

tirfs believe that while cis/bio women and transmasc people should actively learn to be good allies to transfems, be respectful, and moderate the rampant transmisogyny in their spaces, transfems also need to learn to be good allies to us and recognize their privilege from not facing misogyny in childhood and not having female-unique issues. they also need to moderate their own spaces for the awful "cotton ceiling" rhetoric, threats and sexual violence from transfems with a penis, guilt-tripping into male/female sex especially with homosexual female/ofab people, misogynistic views of female bodies, openly agp creeps positioning themselves as transfems, and anything involving transfems who did not do the work to unlearn their omab upbringing. it's unfortunate that this even needs to be moderated, and i don't believe most transfems are like this, but it is a huge issue that is going unaddressed and it's a big reason why cis/bio women and transmasc people are flocking to radblr right now.

for those who do not agree with terf rhetoric, tirfism is carving out a space for those tras to find shelter and recover from the misogyny & homophobia they faced in tra spaces. we also take in transfems who are tired of their nuanced voices getting shut down or being called bootlickers for speaking up for female/ofab rights and being a good ally. tirfs at the end of the day want equal allyship between female people, homosexual ppl, transfems, transmascs and all gnc people, as we are all affected by the heteropatriarchy. we also want proper care for trans people and preventative measures within healthcare and in tra communities to prevent more heartbreaking detransitions, which harm not just detrans people but also add to trans stigma.

people might say we're not radfem enough for radblr, or too radfem for lgbt or queer spaces, but we're too tired of the bullshit to give up.

side note - not all tirfs are as nuanced. there have been waves in the past of self-proclaimed tirfs that were decidedly not radical, and constantly downplayed female (and homosexual) rights. my kind of radfeminism includes misogyny-affected transfems, but my fellow tirfs and i do not just want to water down radical feminism or enable people to cause more harm to female folks. as a detrans lesbian i know firsthand how much harm libfem tras can cause. tirfism is about including misogyny-affected dysphoric voices into the conversation, and exploring diverse experiences. some issues are unique to female people and homosexuals, and that's alright! some issues are also unique to transfems, to transmascs, or to all trans ppl. we want to put an end to all misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia/stigma.

that's tirfism to me, anyways!

[honeybeebytheseaa]

My Grandkid HC’s

ISABELA

Lesbian. I’m sorry I just can’t see her being into guys it just doesn’t work in my brain.

Also trans of the gender (mtf)

Since she’s dropped her perfect persona, Isabela has been pulling pranks, ESPECIALLY on known little shit head Camilo. He doesn’t know whether to be proud or extremely annoyed.

Can’t cook or bake she’ll set the kitchen aflame

Always walks barefoot on the grass

Has names for most of her plants, especially the cacti

Doesn’t really involve herself in farmers work unless there is an emergency.

Developed a skill for gardening without her gift, and continues to do so even once she’s gotten it back. There’s something special about watching plants grow over time.

She still makes bouquets for events, but they’ve lost their conservative look for something more ‘Isabela’

Unlike most of her family she doesn’t mind bugs (unless they are in her room)

Very high pain tolerance. Likely due to smiling all day and cacti thorns.

She still likes pastel colors but they aren’t high on her list of favorite colors, so she opts for darker colors when choosing cloths.

She used to bite people as a kid

Has conflicting feelings on animals because on one hand yeah they are cute on the other she has to shoo them away from eating her plants every other week

Has a large man eating plant named ‘Rosita’

Sometimes she’ll take whatever is in Mirabel’s hand, put it on a high shelf she cannot reach, and walk away.

Can actually be scarier then Luisa believe it or not

SNORES SO LOUDLY the only person who can handle it is her gf

Not big on physical affection and often uses gift giving as her way of showing love (platonically and romantically)

DOLORES

Incredible musician who could basically play any instrument you hand her

She sings lullabies to the younger family members

Personally I imagine her as the only straight grandkid but obvi she is supportive of lgbtq+ since half her family is apart of it

She wouldn’t come out of her room when she first got her gift, but her parents and a very supportive Isabela eventually coaxed her out

She has headphones painted red and gold by Mirabel

autism (vine boom sound effect)

As much as she loves Isabela and appreciates all of Luisa’s hardwork; out of her cousins her and Mira get along the best.

Speaking of that Isabela and Dolores’s relationship, much like Camilo and Mirabel’s, soured as the pressure to uphold the family name increased. Before the magic disappeared they basically ignored each other, but began to reconcile during the rebuild and became close again.

Her room is sound proof (I know people say otherwise idc she needs a BREAK) but during the night she’ll sometimes open her window since it’s much quieter

I do believe she has SOME control over her gift, and in order to hear very far she has to hold a hand against her ear. When she isn’t, things are amplified but not unbearable. She’s kinda just gotten used to it.

Dolores love language is, unsurprisingly, words of affirmation.

If she gets stressed and doesn’t have access to her headphones, she’ll listen for the nearest family members voice (Ex: her fathers laugh, her mothers ranting, Camilo’s jokes, Antonio communicating with his animals)

Gets in on Isabela’s pranks now and again. She is mostly polite but has a devious side, especially with her cousins and siblings.

LUISA

I still adhere to the concept Luisa has some sort of ‘calm’ room. Wether it be an amusement park or a sauna she deserves to have somewhere to destress

Has a pile of stuffed animals, each with different names

She actually does enjoy doing chores and being active, but struggles to find a stopping point and not overwork herself

She’s more then just brawn, and was always a sharp academic when she was in school

Women enjoyer women enjoyer

VERY physically affectionate she’s giving everyone hugs and crushing their bones

Her and Camilo get along very well after Casita’s rebuild. She likes his energy and ability to let loose, and Camilo respects all the work she does around the Encanto. They mesh well.

When she first got her gift she accidentally broke her dads hand

Her father used to teach her piano, though she sorta fell out of it the older she got. Since casita’s rebuild she’s picked it back up as a hobby.

A big animal person, second to Antonio. She likes patting the donkeys on the head if she gets the chance

Has a hard time sitting down to eat because she’s always getting ready to move

If you give her anything she’ll begin sobbing and thanking you (birthdays and Christmas are rough)

She puts the younger kids if air jail if she has to

She originally struggled to control her gift, and that made her scared to touch anyone in fear she’d hurt them. But Pepa helped Luisa find ways to control the strength as she had to learn with her weather

After she lost her gift she kept trying to move the church as a force of habit

Reads a lot of fantasy novels

Helps Antonio wrangle his animals

CAMILO

(This will be more brief as I have a whole post of HC’s for this mf)

Gay and trans can’t change my mind

Despite always being hungry he cannot stomach fish. Some other seafoods are fine but the smell of fish makes him ill.

Won’t say this out loud: he is kinda legitimately afraid of Isabela ever since he’s become the target of her pranks. No one knows true fear until you realize you are caught in a Isabela prank.

Camilo’s love language is a lot of things, but quality time is high up on his list as he likes living in the moment.

Is a very good artist but gets embarrassed when people try to look at his work

Despite being a stick he is surprisingly strong.

Him and Mirabel used to be close but sort lost that connection the older they got, and even began to fight and butt heads. I like to think they do eventually become close, but it takes a lot of conversation and time.

adhd and autism (vine boom sound effect)

used to bite people as a kid

He likes reading plays and will space out for hours thinking how something translates on a stage

Sometimes he stands in front of a mirror and goes ‘why why why why why why why w

MIRABEL

The silly!!!

Like Isabela: gift giving is her way of showing affection. She loves hand crafting gifts.

This is depressing but when she didn’t get her gift she drew a door on her wall hoping the magic would make it real

Once no one would wake up so she poured water on Camilo’s head and he screamed so loud it woke everyone else up

Mirabel looks extremely innocent but will literally try to stab anyone who bothers her with her sewing needle

She used to write simple picture books for Antonio when they roomed together

She DEF got her own room during the rebuild. Like imagine saving the miracle and your family is just like “anyway go back to the baby room lol” they wouldn’t do that to her

Bisexual icon love to see it

Has zero rizz I’m sorry queen but like she’s a girl failure by heart

Is a bit of old woman and can’t stay up too late without getting tired but in turn wakes up extremely early.

Not the best academic but obviously still very smart.

She’s an empath so if you begin crying she’ll start crying too she can’t help it

Is blinder than a bat if you take her glasses away she cannot see SHIT

ANTONIO

Don’t have too much on him since he is still a baby but I have a few!

His favorite animal is the jaguar! Hence the plushie and his closeness to Parce

He likes matching animals to people, and even has a few animals named after his family.

Animals often tend to just kinda… follow him. If he goes for a walk he might came back with some new friends.

I do think he’s a vegetarian. Maybe not a vegan but eating meat is not easy for him.

He doesn’t always go to his parents if he has nightmares, and will rotate between Dolores, Mirabel, and Camilo.

Kicks in his sleep

[techiekittie]

Kemi Badenoch, the equality minister and part of the Conservative Party, has said many transphobic things like blocking laws to ban conversion therapy, purposefully misgendering trans women in a leaked recording, and supporting the LGB alliance (which excludes trans people from queerness).

Meanwhile, David Tennant, a popular Scottish actor starring in Doctor Who and Good Omens, is a great ally to the queer community. While not being queer himself, he is very supportive of LGBTQ people, often wearing a nonbinary pride pin to support one of his (unknown) children, consistently speaking out about gay and trans rights, and posting about equality online.

His words have had an extremely positive impact on many queer people (especially his fans), and he won the Celebrity Ally LGBTQIA+ award for his support.

During his speech, he expressed more support for the queer community, saying:

“…acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they're not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention, because it's common sense, isn't it?”

He also criticised Kemi Badenoch (the transphobic woman I mentioned above) in his speech, saying:

“We shouldn't live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up, and Kemi Badenoch doesn't exist any more – I don't wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up.”

This has sparked controversy amongst the Conservative Party, who has recently been attempting to form policies to limit “transgender ideology”. Rishi Sunak, the MP leading the party (and running for PM in the general election, though expected to lose by a landslide) has openly opposed trans people, making many transphobic comments on live television during the election debates.

He opposed David Tennant’s speech by saying on Twitter:

He uses the word “women”- plural, though Kemi Badenoch is only one woman, and the only one David Tennant criticised in his speech. Some have speculated that he is trying to garner support from feminists, pandering insincerely to them.

Kemi Badenoch has also responded on this on Twitter, saying:

Ironically, she campaigns heavily against policies banning conversion therapy- which often uses traumatic experiences to associate queerness with trauma, making the person avoid their own sexuality and identity, leading to PTSD for most. This endangers many women, including trans women and lesbians, yet she opposes policies designed to keep them safe from these traumatic situations.

[theballadofthesunandthestars]

So, I don’t have the right set of words right now to express how I’m feeling after the election. When I do, I will likely post them. But I wanted to tell people that you are not alone. My DM’s are open, and you have my consent to vent as much as you need in them. I’ll try to respond to every one.

Free Palestine. Trans rights are human rights. Love is love. Abortion is healthcare. Black Lives Matter, and there is no such thing as an illegal immigrant.

This also serves as a reminder that activism shouldn’t only be limited to election years. Too often, people only speak up when it’s too late, when activism is never ending. Even now, there are steps you can take to protect and help marginalized communities in America. Below, I’m linking lists of resources to help people in marginalized communities in and outside of America. Call your representatives. Email them. Donate what money you can. The fight is not over. Feel free to reblog and add more to it.

Here is a link of resources to help the people of Palestine. The Palestinian people are facing a genocide, and we can help support them in fleeing and finding resources to survive.

Here is a resource available to transgender people to aid in their transition nationwide, as well as provide mental health support. Gender affirming care is absolutely necessary, and you deserve to be able to have it.

P-flag is a great resource if you are LGBTQ+ and are looking for support in the fight for queer rights. It can also help you find community, which is more important now than ever. You can donate to assist in their fight and in the fight to find and support queer people nationwide.

BLM did not go away in 2020, the fight to stop police brutality against black and brown communities is still ongoing. Breonna Taylor’s killers were recently indicted four years after the incident, but many more are still seeking justice. Please check out their website to find out how you can help.

Here is a hotline you can use if you are seeking an abortion that you are unable to get in your state. You can also donate money, which goes directly to patients, allowing them to pay for travel, housing, and the procedure itself. Your body, your choice.

Again, feel free to reblog with more! Even small actions help, and we need them now more than ever.