#trans day of resilience

[protoslacker]

War Resisters League

The rampant discrimination against and oppression of trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people is inexcusable and unacceptable.

Trans Day of Remembrance and Trans Day of Resilience: Beyond Awareness and Onward to Action

[transcarecollab]

There's so much to say and yet no words, no images convey anywhere near enough.

Reposted from @modernpathcounseling on IG

After a week of awareness, hope, and love, today is extra hard. We are fighting a battle daily to be seen, to be respected, and to be allowed to live authentically.

Today we honor the 390 trans and gender-diverse lives we lost in the last 12 months due to hate and violence. This is a reported number, so we are also holding space that 390 may not be accurate and lower than the actual amount (due to reporting error and bias).

Every year on this day, we say the names of people whose lives were taken from them due to violence and hate. The number grows every year. These are brutal crimes. These are precious humans found in mass graves. These are deaths by suicide. And all of these deaths stem from hate. 390 people. One of them was 10 years old. These were 390 preventable deaths.

Today we are holding space for our trans family and those who lost their lives over the past year. Today we honor those who are here and those who paved the way for our communities.

Please take the time to read our post here: https://www.modernpath.net/modern-path-speaks-out/trans-day-of-remembrance-2022

In Solidarity,

Team Modern Path

[megkuna]

discomfort can be a good thing actually lol i feel like we're losing that sense and it. scares me tbh

[embodiedinscribed]

Rewatching Heartstopper in order to keep from succumbing to a state of despair after tuning into today's news.

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #9

March 9-15 2024

The IRS launched its direct file pilot program. Tax payers in 12 states, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Massachusetts, California and New York, can now file their federal income taxes for free on-line directly with the IRS. The IRS plans on taking direct file nation wide for next year's tax season. Tax Day is April 15th so if you're in one of those states you have a month to check it out.

The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights opened an investigation into the death of Nex Benedict. the OCR is investigating if Benedict's school district violated his civil rights by failing to protect him from bullying. President Biden expressed support for trans and non-binary youth in the aftermath of the ruling that Benedict's death was a suicide and encouraged people to seek help in crisis

Vice President Kamala Harris became the first sitting Vice-President (or President) to visit an abortion provider. Harris' historic visit was to a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul Minnesota. This is the last stop on the Vice-President's Reproductive Rights Tour that has taken her across the country highlighting the need for reproductive health care.

President Biden announced 3.3 billion dollars worth of infrastructure projects across 40 states designed to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure. Communities often split decades ago by highways build in the 1960s and 70s. These splits very often affect communities of color splitting them off from the wider cities and making daily life far more difficult. These reconnection projects will help remedy decades of economic racism.

The Biden-Harris administration is taking steps to eliminate junk fees for college students. These are hidden fees students pay to get loans or special fees banks charged to students with bank accounts. Also the administration plans to eliminate automatic billing for textbooks and ban schools from pocketing leftover money on student's meal plans.

The Department of Interior announced $120 million in investments to help boost Climate Resilience in Tribal Communities. The money will support 146 projects effecting over 100 tribes. This comes on top of $440 million already spent on tribal climate resilience by the administration so far

The Department of Energy announced $750 million dollars in investment in clean hydrogen power. This will go to 52 projects across 24 states. As part of the administration's climate goals the DoE plans to bring low to zero carbon hydrogen production to 10 million metric tons by 2030, and the cost of hydrogen to $1 per kilogram of hydrogen produced by 2031.

The Department of Energy has offered a 2.3 billion dollar loan to build a lithium processing plant in Nevada. Lithium is the key component in rechargeable batteries used it electric vehicles. Currently 95% of the world's lithium comes from just 4 countries, Australia, Chile, China and Argentina. Only about 1% of the US' lithium needs are met by domestic production. When completed the processing plant in Thacker Pass Nevada will produce enough lithium for 800,000 electric vehicle batteries a year.

The Department of Transportation is making available $1.2 billion in funds to reduce decrease pollution in transportation. Available in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico the funds will support projects by transportation authorities to lower their carbon emissions.

The Geothermal Energy Optimization Act was introduced in the US Senate. If passed the act will streamline the permitting process and help expand geothermal projects on public lands. This totally green energy currently accounts for just 0.4% of the US' engird usage but the Department of Energy estimates the potential geothermal energy supply is large enough to power the entire U.S. five times over.

The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act was introduced in the Senate banning No Knock Warrants nationwide

A bill was introduced in the House requiring the US Postal Service to cover the costs of any laid fees on bills the USPS failed to deliver on time

The Senate Confirmed 3 more Biden nominees to be life time federal Judges, Jasmine Yoon the first Asian-America federal judge in Virginia, Sunil Harjani in Illinois, and Melissa DuBose the first LGBTQ and first person of color to serve as a federal judge in Rhode Island. This brings the total number of Biden judges to 185

[spiderfreedom]

I honestly owe detrans people, and especially detrans women, so much, because reading about their experiences has taught me a lot about... well, everything? About myself and my own trauma re: femaleness, autism. About the factors that lead people to transition. About resilience and moving forward and making a life for yourself in a world where there's no space for you.

Some of my favorite writings from detrans people:

somenuancepls (Michelle Alava, active on substack) has multiple great posts, especially on resilience and growth for detrans people. I recommend "Actually I was just crazy the whole time" (on the mindset that leads medical transition to be viewed as a panacea), "We Shouldn't Have to Be Here" (on how detrans people are expected to act as martyrs) and "Let's Talk About How We Talk About Detransition" (on how to ethically and compassionately talk about transition and detransition without harming (de)/transitioners).

destroyyourbinder (no longer active) has so many amazing posts that I really can't list them all, but "Unriddling the Sphinx: Autism and the Magnetism of Gender Transition" was genuinely revelatory for me as a gender non-conforming autistic woman. (It also kinda sent me spiraling for a few days so if you are also an autistic gnc, read with caution)

funkypsyche has been writing a lot about 'woke' culture in a way I don't agree with, but "The Archetypal FTM Sensitive, Quirky, Artistic Weird Girls" (on the type of people attracted to transmasc identification and the ways society fails them - do you see also see yourself in this list?) is a good read. As a supplement, there is "The History of Tumblr: Gender and Woke Indoctrination, Video Essay", and if you can get through the parts about, well, 'woke indoctrination', it provides a perspective on tumblr and its relationship to mental illness and gender. You do not realize how much mental illness is normalized and glorified on tumblr until you see someone explaining it from the outside and you go "huh, I did not realize that happens and that I do that, too..."

Max Robinson wrote "Detransition: Beyond, Before, and After", the only academic text on detransition to my knowledge. An in depth view on factors influencing transition such as lesbophobia, and the relationship between gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia and how the latter is treated as frivolous and vain while the former is treated as profound and serious.

And there are a lot of tweets I've collected I can't really link here, there are many detransitioners on Twitter. I really do recommend reading a broad variety of detransitioned people, detrans women and men. Even read people who retrans like CrashChaosChats, who once wrote on detransition but then retransitioned after finding that she was unable to deal with dysphoria. If you actually care about dysphoric people, trans people, and detrans people, you need to read broadly to understand the full range of reasons people transition or detransition or retransition.

Feel free to reblog with your additions of writings by detrans people, or people you follow on Twitter or other social media if they don't have long-form content.

[justalittlesolarpunk]

Fuck it, I’m suggesting a new day for the queer calendar: trans futures day. TDOV is a relic from another time and TDOR is vitally important but deeply emotionally distressing. Trans people deserve a day to celebrate our successes, our community, our joy, our resilience, our potential. As a solarpunk, I’m passionate about imagining better futures for all of us and a good future includes happy, thriving trans people who are beloved and valued members of their community and have self-determination over their gender expression and personal lives.

TFD could be all about inspiring trans youth about the adults they can become, celebrating growing older while trans, trans people working in progressive politics, the environmental sector, community organising, utopian storytelling and the cutting edge of new advances in science and technology, you name it.

As a date I propose 26th July - if I’ve mathsed right (always a gamble lol) that’s the day exactly halfway between TDOV and TDOR.

Who do I talk to about making it real? 😅

[hubristicassholefight]

Swordswoman Showdown Round 4/Quarterfinal

Kikunojo (One Piece) vs Brienne of Tarth (A Song Of Ice and Fire)

(Better here in a "preferred character" sense, not "who would win in a fight")

Propaganda below cut

Kikunojo

She is a samurai and a retainer for the Kozuki Family, serving as one of the Nine Red Scabbards, a group of samurai that protect the Kozuki family and their country. She's a very skillful samurai, and she and her group managed to delay and hold off the main villain of the arc, (which was an almost insurmountable task for even the main character) and survived the experience despite her horrible injuries; She's canonically and openly trans! And she's gorgeous. And huge... She's 287 cm tall, which for the USAmericans in the audience is 9' 5". She's simply the coolest.

She’s a samurai and fights with a sword; tall trans woman <3

Legendary devoted samurai!; She's 2.87m tall, a time traveler, and not even losing an arm in the middle of the fight stopped her- she had it imediately cauterized and went back to the fight.

She's a lady samurai! Pretty and very skillful with her katana!

She is a samurai who was sent 20 years into the future to avenge the death of her lord; She’s so tall and canonically trans and I love her

She’s a badass samurai who fights for what she believes in and to help people. She is known as Kiku of lingering snow. She’s also canonically trans

She's a time traveling trans samurai, the only woman in a group of 9 legendary samurais; Her arm was chopped off by the biggest baddie so far and she continued fighting, isn't that badass?

One of the strongest samurai in her country; She's a trans icon

#kiku the greatest of all time#🐐#tall and gorgeous samurai lady#who is a trans icon#love that she is so tall that she doesn't fit in the image display#gets recognized as strong by the main character multiple times and proves it by being the most resilient badass of the entire arc#stands up to tyrants and abusers of class privilege#also helps break said main character out of the enemies prison and takes part in a rebellion against the corrupt prison staff#one piece#okiku#kiku

#kiku is canonically trans

Brienne

gets gifted a sword made with the rarest metal ever because she’s THAT good; she’s simply the best

Brienne is one of the top sword users alive in her day. She's descended from a man who's catchphrase was "I'm better with a sword." Better than what? You. Jaime Lannister. Loras Tyrell. Any five given guys at once. She has a fantastic sword that might be magic or cursed and is named Oathkeeper because that's what she does; I love her

Beat like 20 guys in a tournament when she was 19. Was given a magic sword. Won a sword fight against the premier swordsman in the realm. Very swordly; Very tall and strong. Holds her sword in high esteem. Accomplished with other weapons as well!

She's defeated multiple of the top knights in the series in duels. One such knight gifts her the fabergé egg of swords and she uses it to defend orphans and stuff. Got out of a bad betrothal by dueling him and beating his ass so bad she broke multiple bones. Honestly there's so much more she is the swordswoman of all time. to me; She's buff and ugly and 6' 5" and so honorable and kind that she inspires the guy who fucks his sister to yknow. stop doing that. literally gets mauled for the sake of protecting a bunch of orphans (with her sword). also she's 20 she should be at the club ‼️

One of the best sword wielders in Westeros, the author says he would pick her to defend him. Has a cool sword called Oathkeeper. Manages to go up against 7 fighters and take out most of them,. The only true knight; First off, talking about book brienne, they massacred show brienne, the show runners simply didn’t understand what she’s about.“ She had no chance against seven, she knew. No chance, and no choice” brienne had plenty of choice but she couldn’t leave people to die. The chivalric paradigm is rotten and corrupted, but here is Brienne, the one true knight, who isn’t even a actual knight! “knights are for killing”, but here is a knight who risks her life again and again to protect innocents! Bri IS hope, she is the light in the dark that shows that things can be better, things must be better. Fundamentally an idealist: “Winter will never come for the likes of us. Should we die in battle, they will surely sing of us, and it's always summer in the songs. In the songs all knights are gallant, all maids are beautiful, and the sun is always shining”

[cuubism]

some canon-verse trans Hob for the lovely @five-and-dimes who recently got top surgery! 🥳🥰 congratulations, I'm truly so happy for you, my friend. please accept this humble offering

--

“So, it actually started on a dare,” Hob says, on the day he tells Dream the story of him. Or of this part of him, anyway.

Normally, Hob gets a bit guarded the first time he tells someone he’s trans. It’s hard to predict with absolute certainty how people will react, especially ones he’s just become romantically involved with. He’s had it go poorly, to say the least, in the past.

He doesn’t feel that way with Dream. It’s not because there’s so much trust between them—they’re still new, after all. No, it’s something about Dream himself. For all his prickly and standoffish nature, being close to him feels like sinking into a warm lake, into a dark sleep where secrets and hidden wishes float up like glowing reeds to the surface. Deep, personal feelings feel safe with Dream; he cradles them in his hands and soothes them. Or that’s how it feels, when Hob is touching him.

Personification of dreams, indeed.

“A dare?” Dream echoes.

“Sort of," Hob says. "Got frustrated with people saying women should or shouldn’t do this or that or the other thing, so I decided if they felt so strongly about it I’d just be a man. Moved somewhere no one knew me, dressed differently, got stronger, practiced the sword—and that was that. No one seemed to care much, once you were at war. So long as you could swing a sword and not get yourself killed.”

“A choice, then,” Dream says. He’s listening very intently, hands folded on his knees, untouched tea on the coffee table before him.

“At first. Was only after I’d been living that way for a few decades—before and after we met—that I realized while there might be a handful of women out there living as men for the freedom of it, that they didn’t all like it. Given the choice they’d rather just be women in a more equal world. You know?”

Dream hums in understanding.

“But I didn’t want to go back,” Hob continues. “I felt like... who I'd become was the truth of me all along.”

“Identity, while not wholly immutable, is resilient against adversity and circumstance,” says Dream. “You found what your heart wanted you to be, if in a circuitous manner.”

“You seem very unbothered by it,” Hob observes, sipping his tea.

Dream frowns. “Why would I be bothered by it?”

“Dunno.” Apparently he can’t fully shake that this’ll put a wedge in us feeling. “People sometimes are. Feel deceived, or something like that. So they say.”

“If they are deceived, it is by their own assumptions,” Dream says, with disdain. “You should be as you dream yourself, Hob. No more nor less. Put aside these petty physical trappings.”

“I do actually have to live in these ‘physical trappings’ even if you don’t, you silly thing.” He can’t help laughing. “Besides, I rather like being some kind of living creature in the world, rather than what? A ghost? Best I can do is make this body as close to how it should be as possible.”

Hob’s come to like his body, for the most part, in the form that he’s made it. He didn’t always. But he needs a body of some kind to be alive, and he likes being alive. So what he couldn’t change, he made peace with.

Besides, they have hormone treatments nowadays. Brilliant stuff. Makes it so much better.

“Anyway, now you know. I wanted you to. Since we’re together.” It’s still a marvel. Together.

“Thank you,” says Dream, with evident sincerity. “It is a privilege to be gifted your secrets.”

“Not really a secret, but I get what you mean.” He takes Dream’s hand, just to touch him, and admits, “Telling it to you is like… I don’t know. Feels like when I was younger and first admitted out loud, ‘I’m a man. I want to stay like this.’”

It hasn’t been a proper secret in a very long time. But giving it to Dream is like the freedom of releasing a held breath, even so.

“I am the harbor and cradle of dreams,” Dream says in reply. He traces his fingers over Hob’s. Does Dream’s strange form just spring from the ether? Hob wonders. Or does he have to choose it? The way Hob chose his? “Dreams of being and becoming… these are most precious for they grow from tough soil. I can only protect them, I cannot create them. You must do that. And I expect that were I to find you in the Dreaming, there would be a fantastic garden there, indeed.”

Dream himself is the most fantastical thing. “Well, darling, just know your work is appreciated.”

Dream’s lips tip up in a tiny smile. When he meets Hob’s gaze again, his eyes have gone dark and starry. He folds Hob into a hug, and—

oh, it’s like being hugged by the universe itself.

Hob feels the light breeze of a warm dark night, when he’d lain by the dying fire in a war camp in the French countryside, and looked up at a million stars and first whispered to himself what if this is really who I am? Dream is that breeze and those stars. The dying embers that had lit him as he’d run his hands over his body and felt it differently than he ever had before, and been terrified because what would it mean?—but also thrilled and alive. Dream is the night wrapping around him in that moment, the night that was listening to his dreams no matter how quietly he admitted them, Dream is that and more and the voice in his heart telling him it would be okay.

A younger, more uncertain Hob would have needed this. Hob now is older, and he already knows who he is and what he wants, but he falls into Dream’s embrace all the same. A tear slips from his eye, and Dream kisses his cheek, wiping the tear away with his tongue before leaning their heads together.

“I could craft you any body you wanted in the Dreaming,” he says lowly. “However I think the one you have made with your own hands is more remarkable.”

Oh, God, he’s going to tear up again. “Dream, you are the most beautiful, wonderful thing.”

Dream hums in pleasure at the words, and lets Hob hold him close, lets him cradle his head to his chest, a dream kept close to his heart. One that he knew as soon as he saw it walk into the White Horse. Sooner even than he truly knew himself.

Then Dream looks up at him with a hopeful expression. “With these truths revealed, are we able to be intimate?”

Hob laughs so hard he has to tip his head back against the couch. “Wow. One track mind with you, isn’t it? I spill my heart and that’s what I get?”

Dream grumbles, tucking his face in against Hob’s neck to press his lips to Hob’s throat. “I find myself impatient of late.”

“Knew all along you were only with me for my body.” He’s grinning, though. Can’t stop.

“Well. Considering it is such a lovely one.” He plucks at Hob’s shirt buttons. Lecherous little nightmare.

It feels fucking good, though, to be desired.

“C’mere, then,” he says, and drags Dream into his lap.

Dream settles there with a purr, starts playing with Hob’s hair, but says, “I would not truly derail this moment, nor distract from your feelings if you do not wish it.”

“Oh, I wish it. You’ve no idea how much I want you right now. You’re like a prize.” He cradles Dream’s beloved face between his hands. “Stick around for long enough and you’ll get the most incredible Dream at the end of it.”

“Or at the beginning,” Dream says, and Hob’s heart swells so much to hear him voice that that he has to kiss him.

When he does, Dream makes a low, pleased sound, settling deeper in his lap. Yes, this moment, this life, is certainly the prize for all of those years hanging onto those dreams:

the dream of his lover

and the one of himself.

[uncanny-tranny]

By nature of being trans, I have a very nuanced relationship with misogyny, but man, nothing has shown me the stark difference in how cowardly people (read: misogynists) are when it comes to conflict.

I swear, it's like every other day that a female coworker confides that they were yelled at again - workers I know are competent. However, I've found that people become way more mild around me in many ways. I read it as cowardice because it seems like they'll look at a woman (or someone they presume as a woman) and see someone they can essentially bully if they get mildly annoyed. With myself, I'm perceived as a (very monotone) man - the worst that I've gotten is people complaining that I'm monotone.

There's no other explanation for this, by the way. I know who the women in my life are and what they are like. They're dependable, resilient, respectful, and kind. They do their fair share and they do it well. The only explanation is that misogynists are, unsurprisingly, cowardly when it comes to their sexism. And I think that says a lot about how we ought to perceive these issues, especially when it comes to men who may not experience this as often. This is why believing people is important, this is why having faith that individuals can narrarate their experiences is so important. You simply cannot know everything - especially because bigots in general are weak-kneed

[so-i-did-this-thing]

Hard to decide what to say for Trans Day of Visibility 2023, when we're constantly smeared in the news and are a focus of over 400 anti-lgbt bills across the United States.

I hate that, to be trans, you have to become an expert in politics and healthcare, and even then, cis people brand you as "too close" to the subject to make your own decisions about your body, or even argue for your rights.

But trans joy will persist, due in part to us being informed and looking out for one another. I'll be turning 46 soon and continue to achieve personal milestones that felt impossible when the depression of the closet was so unbearable. This year, I broke the 6-figure salary barrier in my career, something I never imagined possible back in 2007 when I was living in poverty and squalor after a cruel, paranoid ex-boss destroyed both my life and transition savings via a bogus non-compete lawsuit when I dared to leave his company. I wouldn't start HRT for another 3 years.

Trans people will continue to exist, and planning can help you become more resiliant. I suggest fellow trans folks take a look at how I'm urging people to prepare in Florida as our healthcare here stands to become a near-ban.

And I urge everyone to contribute to individual aid -- most of my new salary is going towards moving out of Florida + recovering from the financial damages of my time in poverty (and there's oh so many damages), but I've still been able to fund some birth certificate changes in full, and contribute to some surgery funds.

So, stay strong and take a deep breath. I don't know what the future holds, but you're not alone.

[inkspiredwriting]

A Moment Out of Time

Five Hargreeves x Fem!reader

Warnings: none

Five Hargreeves and his siblings had found themselves once again displaced in time. This time, it was the 1980s. They were stranded, trying to find a way back to their own era, but the path was fraught with complications. Amidst the chaos of adjusting to yet another time period, Five met Y/N.

Y/N was different from anyone he had ever known. She had a resilience and warmth that drew him in, despite his usual reluctance to let anyone get close. They met at a local library, where Five had been researching potential leads on how to return to his own time. Y/N, a librarian with an insatiable curiosity, had offered to help him with his mysterious inquiries.

Over time, their shared moments turned from purely professional to deeply personal. They would spend evenings together, discussing everything from history to their hopes and fears. Five found himself opening up to Y/N in ways he hadn't with anyone else. And Y/N, despite sensing there was much he wasn't telling her, found herself falling for the enigmatic time traveler.

One evening, they were sitting in a small café, the warm glow of the setting sun casting a golden hue over everything. Five looked at Y/N, her laughter infectious as she recounted a funny story from her childhood. But beneath his smile, a heaviness weighed on his heart. He knew their time together was running out.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

She looked at him, her smile fading as she saw the seriousness in his eyes. “What is it, Five?”

He took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. “I’m not from here. Not just this place, but this time. My siblings and I, we’re from the future, and we’ve been trying to get back.”

Y/N’s eyes widened, her mind racing to comprehend what he was saying. “The future? How far?”

“Far enough,” he replied. “But now we’ve found a way back, and… I have to leave.”

The weight of his words settled between them, the reality of their situation hitting Y/N like a tidal wave. “You’re leaving?”

Five nodded, pain evident in his eyes. “I don’t want to, but I have to. My family needs me, and we have responsibilities in our own time.”

Y/N looked down, her heart breaking. “How long do we have?”

“Just a few more days,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tears welled up in Y/N’s eyes, but she fought to keep her composure. “I knew there was something different about you, something extraordinary. But I never imagined this.”

Five reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “I wish things were different. I wish I could stay.”

They spent those final days together, cherishing every moment. They visited Y/N’s favorite spots, shared stories, and made the most of the limited time they had. Each day was a bittersweet reminder of the impending goodbye.

On the last day, Five and Y/N stood at the spot where he would meet his siblings to travel back. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the ground.

“Promise me something,” Y/N said, her voice trembling.

“Anything,” Five replied, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

“Promise me you’ll remember me, wherever you end up,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

Five pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “I promise, Y/N. I’ll never forget you.”

Their final kiss was tender and filled with a mix of love and sorrow. As they pulled apart, Five’s siblings appeared, ready to make the jump back to their own time.

Five turned to Y/N one last time, his heart aching. “Goodbye, Y/N.”

“Goodbye, Five,” she whispered, watching as he joined his siblings.

With a flash of light, they were gone, leaving Y/N standing alone, her heart shattered but filled with the memories of their time together.

Back in their own time, Five carried Y/N’s memory with him, a beacon of light in the dark corners of his life. And Y/N, though heartbroken, knew that she had been part of something extraordinary, something that transcended time itself.

[embodiedinscribed]

Scrolling through social media looking for someone with a broken heart

[justherefortua]

finished the young blood book! Though it’s definitely YA rather than as mature, it gave me a lot of nostalgia for the post-S1 fics where people thought they were goin gto be ported to childhood, and I thought the little details and the way the characters were characterized was actually really good! I loved how many parallels there were to canon and the further elaboration on the day to day life of the Umbrella Academy (and Viktor)

I wouldn’t take the book as a 100% canon source, but here are some disconnected small details that I enjoyed: SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

- Twice trying to wrangle the hargreeves is referred to as “herding cats”, which is very accurate

- Grace custom sews their outfits and adjusts them for each member 🥺🥺🥺🥺 Luther gets a new one every time he grows, Diego has secret compartments for his knives, Ben has tentacle openings, Viktor’s looks a little too big on him

- I could definitely see how this Luther turns into S1 Luther but also he’s such a good guy. He just wants to help people and receive hugs

- Diego;;; my goodness. He loves his mom and also very much has a black and white view of justice. This is when he figures out he likes all black utility gear rather than the uniform

- Allison )::: allison )::: It’s so weird to see her feel out of place among other girls considering she grows up to be a famous actress but I think it was a good moment, as well as foreshadowing for her whole issues with the rumors

- Klaus is so vibrant here. He learned how to hotwire a car (They call Hargreeves’ car Hermes) at 12 from a ghost, regularly sneaks out of the house through the sewage system (the siblings refuse to do this) and is the life of the party

- Five was mentioned and acknowledged a couple times and every time it made me go ): The revelation that Ben had a daily check-in with Klaus asking about whether he could see Five or not and always believed Five was out there somewhere destroyed me. My crumbs ): oh ):

- Ben is my favorite character so I’m so glad he gets a POV here and an actual voice! He definitely has a good heart but also definitely doesn’t fall into the solely “shy and totally passive” stereotype <3 also im just happy for content of umbrella ben i miss him

- Viktor!!! He isn’t sure if Mom claps for his violin because of if he’s actually good or. He’s very lonely but the kids do include him a little bit which is lovely. Definitely some parallels to S1 canon. Also! Some Viktor trans moments where he ruminates on that for a little bit without knowing the actual cause, the mirror line has relevance here. I thought it was handled nicely but obviously I can’t speak on experiences that aren’t my own.

Other misc details:

- Ben gets calmer under high pressure situations and therefore becomes pretty good at pool despite never having played

- Klaus likes to jump from roofs for the fun of it and just thinks his body is extremely resilient to head trauma. Klaus. Klaus no. 😭

- Diego uses “Boy Scout” as a insult for Luther, who doesn’t mind because Boy Scouts are supposed to be dependable

- Diego has always been pretty good at dancing

- The Umbrella Academy never stick around to clean up after themselves on missions

- Ben and Viktor can fit together in the passenger seat

- Favorite meals: Ben likes PB+J and potato chips, Klaus likes bubblegum ice cream, Diego likes roast beef, Luther hamburger and fries, and a hot dog for Allison (though according to her it hasn’t been her fav food in years, and also she forgot Five’s favorite and Viktor’s favorite)

- Klaus listens to heavy metal (to drown out the ghosts), Allison likes pop music

- Viktor learned how to drive one year before this book, taught by Pogo. He has his license! Klaus knows how to drive too but he drives much more recklessly lol

- Allison once had a solo magazine cover and she can’t remember whether she rumored for it or not (foreshadowing)

- Ben has never told anyone that the tentacles hurt when they come out ())):) [BODY HORROR TW] They are also literally slithering under his ski, he can feel em with his organs, and the skin is tender where they come out

- Allison knows CPR. and uses it after one of the siblings has a near death experience 👍

[reasonsforhope]

"While mainstream media increasingly cover violence and legislative attacks against trans people, many scholars and activists worry that focusing just on violence and discrimination fails to capture the full experience of being trans.

Drawing on the success of movements like the Black Joy Project, which uses art to promote Black healing and community-building, trans activists are challenging one-dimensional depictions of their community by highlighting the unique joys of being transgender.

My research on trans parents affirms the reality of trans joy. From 2019 to 2021, I interviewed 54 transgender women — both current and prospective parents — from diverse racial and class backgrounds across the country.

I found that while many have navigated discrimination in their parenting journeys, they also have fulfilling parent-child relationships, often with the support of partners, families of origin and their communities.

Gender euphoria

Scholars and community members use the term gender euphoria to describe a “joyful feeling of rightness in one’s gender/sex.”

It diverges from the diagnosis of gender dysphoria, or a sense of conflict between assigned sex and gender identity typically associated with feelings of distress and discomfort.

Gender euphoria celebrates feeling comfortable with who you are and how you are perceived by the world.

Some people transition with a specific set of goals, while others discover new sources of joy and new facets of their identity over time.

Many of the trans women I interviewed expressed their gender euphoria in relation to their role as mothers. A Black trans woman in her 20s, whom I will call Gloria, experiences joy in being recognized as a mother.

“I love being called Mom. That’s the greatest thing,” she told me. “I love waking up every morning to see [my child’s] beautiful face. It keeps me motivated.” ...

For many trans people, transitioning opens up a new set of possibilities. When I asked Adriana, a trans Latina in her 30s, what it was like to come out as trans, she told me,

“I’ve never been happier. The happiest day of my life was when my daughter was born, and the second happiest day of my life was when I [started transitioning].”

Family and community connections

While some trans people do experience rejection from their families of origin, that is not true for the majority of the community.

In a 2015 national survey of over 27,700 trans adults, the U.S. Trans Survey, 60% of respondents reported having families who are supportive of their trans identity.

Trans women also form chosen families with friends, co-workers and other community members. Relationships with other trans people can have particularly positive effects on identity development and overall well-being, including emotional resilience, self-acceptance and a sense of connection.

Trans community care

In addition to caring for their biological and adopted children, the trans women I interviewed felt a responsibility to take care of their community.

Sometimes this care manifested as parent-child relationships, in which respondents provide financial or emotional support to LGBTQ+ youth.

Maggie, a white woman in her 50s, didn’t know she was a parental figure for her “queer kids” until they tagged her on Instagram to celebrate Mother’s Day.

“Someone might go, ‘Hey, can I stay on your sofa tonight? I’m having a hard time.’ Well, yeah, of course,” she said.

“Or they might hang around the shop [I work at], and only later it dawns on me, ‘Oh, this was the only place they could come and get affirmed and not feel weird.’” ...

Miriam, a white trans woman in her 60s, agreed that she has a lot to learn from younger trans people.

“A lot of my community today, people who I count as family and my beloveds, are not of my generation,” she said. ‘Beloveds’ is the term she uses to describe her platonic loved ones.

“I learn a lot from my beloveds in their 20s and 30s, who don’t have the same baggage I [dealt with] about how I could be and who I could be.”"

-via GoodGoodGood via The Conversation, July 14, 2023

[cool-fancier]

A Dance of Rivalry and Romance

Synopsis: Your crew,Eclipse and Bebe join together to change Seoul's dancing rivalry into a partnership. An unexpected bond sparks among pulsing beats, transcending rivalry.

Seoul's heart pulsated with life's beat, a lively symphony that echoed through its neon-lit streets. In the midst of this bustling backdrop, two dance groups, yours, Eclipse, and Bada's, Bebe, stood as more than simply rivals, but as entities who expressed the exciting spirit of the city. After a chance encounter with a local dance battle in your younger years, you created Eclipse, inspired by an instinctive passion of dance. Bada and her crew Bebe danced in defiance of society expectations, expressing themselves when words failed.

Your first meeting with Bada marked the start of a furious rivalry, a dancing war that laid the foundation for a relationship that would transcend the confines of competition. Over time, the Seoul dance community became divided into two factions: Team Eclipse and Team Bebe. Every competition increased the rivalry, transforming the dancing scene into a war where every movement was weighed down by passion and competition.

Under the surface of the competition, however, there was mutual appreciation for each other's abilities. The dance battles evolved into a dance of desire, a hidden connection buried between violent movements and intimidating glares. It was an emotional dance, with each jump and turn telling a story of unspoken attraction.

As time passed, a show called "Harmony Beat" formed,  aiming to bring rival dance crews together for a collaborative performance. The news hit both teams like a tsunami, and the tension in the dancing studio was apparent during the first meeting. You and Bada, the leaders of your respective groups, stood at opposite ends of the room, looking at each other with a mixture of rivalry and suspicion.

"Look, I don't like this any more than you do, but it's for a good cause to get recognition for my group and might as well yours," Bada explained, her voice solid but laced with hesitation.

You sighed, realising the truth of her words. "Fine, but let's get one thing straight - this doesn't mean we're suddenly best friends."

Bada smirked, amusement visible in her eyes. "Agreed. Let's just get through this without tearing each other apart."

The unsure collaboration began. Eclipse and Bebe's dancing styles initially clashed, with each crew retaining its distinct identity. However, as the rehearsals went, an unexpected synergy evolved. The heated rivalry that once defined your relationship with Bada has developed into a creative collaboration that has pushed both groups beyond their comfort zones.

Late-night practises became occasions for mutual laughter and struggle. Eclipse and Bebe found a peaceful beat in the dance studio, which was formerly a battlefield. Seoul, famed for its throbbing energy, witnessed the transformation of two competitive dance teams into a collaborative force for good.

You and Bada were sitting on the studio floor, catching  your breath one evening after a long session.

"You know," Bada continued, her face serious, "this collaboration might not be so bad after all."

You lifted an eyebrow, taken aback by her statement. "Coming from you, that's saying something."

"Well, I can't deny that your crew has some serious moves," Bada grinned. And maybe, just maybe, dancing is more than simply competition."

As the days turned into weeks, the charity performance for Harmony Beat approached. Eclipse and Bebe's collaboration had grown into something far more significant than either of you could have imagined. The dance routine, which was formerly a clash of styles, now smoothly blends the skills of both teams.

The city gathered to watch the show on the night of the performance. The lights were darkened, the stage was set, and the music began. Eclipse and Bebe danced together as if they were one, their bodies portraying a message of unity, resilience, and the transformational power of dance.

The audience applauded wildly as the final beats echoed throughout the auditorium. You and Bada exchanged a knowing look as you stood side by side in the centre of the stage. Your relationship's rivalry had grown into a partnership that transcended competition.

Bada turned to you with a genuine smile after the performance, as the crews enjoyed in the praise and cheers. "Maybe we should do this again sometime, minus the rivalry."

You grinned, realising that the change from bitter opponents to collaborative partners had been a life-changing experience. "Yeah, maybe we should."

Eclipse and Bebe continued to work together on several projects in the weeks that followed. The dance studio became a haven for creativity, and your relationship with Bada grew stronger. Late-night practises became moments of shared laughter and close glances, with the pulse of the music blurring the lines between competitiveness and romance.

The studio was bathed in the warm glow of dimmed lights, the lingering traces of the hard practise still in the air. You and Bada stood in the centre of the dance floor, the music playing at a low hum, as if mimicking your two's silent intensity. The pulsing beat seemed to match the quick speed of your heartbeat.

Bada's dark and seductive eyes fixed onto yours. The air was charged with an unspoken tension, a magnetic pull that drew you in. Bada took a step closer without saying anything, her fingers going up to softly cup your cheek. You found yourself leaning into it, your gaze never leaving hers, while the touch sent shivers down your spine.

"I've felt it, you know," she said quietly, her voice a breathy melody that rang out in the gap between you.

"Felt what?" you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

"The connection, the dance beyond the choreography," Bada added, running a soft path over your jawline with her thumb. "There's something here, Y/N, something that goes beyond the rivalry, beyond the dance floor."

Her words hung in the air, leaving no space for doubt. The competitive edge that had defined your relationship with Bada seemed to fade in that charged moment, leaving only the raw, unfiltered feeling that had been boiling beneath the surface.

Without saying anything else, Bada closed the gap between you, her lips meeting yours in a delicate, lingering kiss. The world around you appeared to slow down as the sensation of her lips against yours faded away, leaving only the warmth of her touch searing through every fibre of your existence.

It was a kiss that said everything, the culmination of the tension, need, and unspoken connection that had been growing between you and Bada for so long. The dance floor was converted into a canvas for a different sort of choreography at that stolen moment—one that transcended rivalry and spoke the language of love.

The city of Seoul outside the studio walls seemed to hold its breath as the kiss deepened, as if respecting the delicate intimacy unfolding within. The neon lights continued to flicker, putting a warm glow on the two figures locked in an emotional dance.

When Bada finally pulled back, her eyes bore into yours, a mixture of vulnerability and longing mirrored in their depths. "There's no denying it now, is there?" she whispered, her voice a mere echo in the hushed space.

Your breath caught in your throat as you shook your head. Words were needless in the following days of what had happened. The shared kiss had said it all, proving a connection that extended beyond dance fights and championships.

The city of Seoul continued to pulse with life as you and Bada stood there, the studio filled with the echo of the music that had witnessed this private moment. The love story between Eclipse and Bebe's leaders, which had formerly been defined by rivalry, had taken an unexpected turn—one that had painted the city with the hues of a romance that had flowered in the middle of the dance floor.

In the end, Bada and you became symbols of a different kind of harmony, one that celebrated not only the power of dance but also the transformative nature of love. The city, with its beating heart and vibrant soul, embraced the tale of two rival dance crews turned lovers, proving that in the rhythm of life, even the fiercest competitions could lead to the most beautiful collaborations.