#utah pride 2023

[postopmalone]

Kings representing at Utah Pride 2023

[laurellynnleake]

🚨 June 6th 2024: USA COVID Alert 🚨

SARS-CoV-2 rates are rising across the USA, especially in the West - mask up to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Remember, the US government is now actively hiding COVID data across Turtle Island, hospitals are rarely testing or masking, and death certificates do NOT list COVID-related complications like heart attacks and strokes. That means we have to rely on public wastewater data (measuring viruses in sewer water), and even that's being suppressed, and everything's on a 2 week delay. So when the numbers we CAN see go up (like the current official 430,000 infections per day), that's just the tip of the iceberg...Right now wastewater numbers are about TWICE AS HIGH AS THEY WERE LAST JUNE, before the US declared the pandemic over.

These graphs are from wastewaterscan.org and Iowacovid19tracker.org. They collect a lot of local and national data too - look up your own area!

SARS-COV-2 aerosols hang in the air like smoke, and can infect you hours after the contagious person's gone. Keep yourself safe by wearing a well-fitting respirator mask (like N95s or KN95s) whenever you're in CROWDED and COVERED areas, and when CLOSE to people (that includes outside pride events, protest rallies, backyard cookouts, etc). Whenever possible, keep indoors air moving by opening windows, and improve air quality with HEPA air filters (ex. DIY Corsi-Rosenthal box fans).

If you're sick: https://tinyurl.com/currentlysick

Mask database: https://tinyurl.com/maskdb

Air filtration resources: https://cleanaircrew.org/

How To Talk To Your Loved Ones About COVID: COVID.tips

You do NOT want to get COVID-19 if you can avoid it - the initial infection can be nasty, and the long-term effects brutally disabling. Wearing a mask is the quickest and easiest way to break the chain of transmission, and to stand in solidarity with marginalized people fighting to survive across the globe.

Spread the word and take care of each other out there!

[ID 1: Screenshot of IowaCovid19Tracker on June 7th, showing a map of SARS-CoV-2 viral activity in the USA for the last week of May 2024. Hawai'i is blue with the highest "Excessive cases", followed by Wyoming and Utah (red, "Substantial"). New Mexico, Nevada, Florida, Arkansas, Montana, Missouri, Maryland, California, Washington, and Texas are all orange, meaning "Moderate" cases. Most of the Northeast and Alaska are yellow, or "Low", with the remaining states green, or "Minimal." ID 2: Screenshot of WasteWaterScan.org tracker showing data for all sites averaged together as a single line graph. The line starts at late March 2024 to early June, at around 275 parts per million (SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids found in wastewater samples). It slowly decreases to about 125 per mill by April 21st, then slopes upward jaggedly until it spikes to around 375 at the end of May. ID 3: A screenshot of the WasteWaterScan.org tracker showing data for all sites stacked on top of each other in a line graph, with the lower end of the spectrum having so many blue lines so as to appear almost as a solid color. The graph shows late April to early June, and has the most lines around 200 parts per million, but a good handful of lines extend up to 2400 parts per million. Below the line chart, a historical chart shows a longer view, with peaks in the winter of 2023 and 2024. Looking at the last month or two on that scale, there appears to be an uptick starting in mid May that is about twice as high as the same time in 2023.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alex Bollinger at LGBTQ Nation:

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) declared June the “Month of Bridge Building” instead of saying that it’s Pride Month, and he’s facing criticism for shifting the focus from LGBTQ+ awareness and Pride to the nonexistent oppression of anti-LGBTQ+ people. Cox issued a declaration for the Month of Bridge Building this past Saturday, June 1. His declaration said that LGBTQ Utahns “have experienced marginalization and isolation as a result of their differences.” In the next paragraph, his declaration says that “those who do not identify with, celebrate or support Pride celebrations… nevertheless share the experience of being marginalized.” His declaration goes on to say, “In Utah, we love our children and we hope to live in such a way that our children will forever love us even if at times we may disagree over deeply-held personal views or beliefs.”

[...] He also issued straightforward Pride Month declarations in 2021 and 2022. But in 2023, he got criticized by conservatives for issuing a Pride Month declaration, according to the Salt Lake Tribune, who called it “disgraceful” and “disgusting.” On the left, some criticized his Pride Month declaration for coming just after he signed the gender-affirming care ban. He considered himself “an ally to the LGBTQ community” in a 2023 interview, saying, “We have great relationships, I am very close with the advocates in our state.” He’s now facing a serious primary challenger from the right in state Rep. Phil Lyman as he runs for governor again. This past April, Cox was booed when he spoke at the Republican State Nominating Convention. Delegates at the convention overwhelmingly supported Lyman. “Maybe you’re booing me because you hate that I signed the largest tax cut in Utah history,” Cox said. “Maybe you hate that I signed constitutional carry into law. Maybe you hate that we ended CRT, DEI, and ESG. Or maybe you hate that I don’t hate enough.” Cox was attacked for suggesting that he was getting booed because the state Republican delegates were hateful, even though his veto of the sports ban in 2022 has been one of Lyman’s main criticisms of him.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) issued a bothsiderist declaration that June is Month Of Bridge Building instead of declaring Pride Month by pushing the baseless trope that anti-LGBTQ+ Utahns “share the experience of being marginalized.”

This is a far cry from the days in which Cox was at least somewhat an LGBTQ+ ally (or what passes as one) for a GOP politician.

[reasoningdaily]

The individuals pictured here have pleaded with the public to cease harassment, as they have already suffered the loss of friends, family, and jobs due to this story.

On June 12, 2022, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office released the names and photos of 31 members of the white nationalist group, Patriot Front, who were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to riot in Coeur d'Alene during a Pride event[1][3][5].

All the arrested individuals had bonded out of the Kootenai County Jail by Sunday afternoon[1]. The group was reportedly en route to the "Pride in the Park" event equipped with riot gear, a smoke grenade, and paperwork that resembled an operations plan[1][3].

The Patriot Front is known for its activities in vandalism, racist propaganda, and flash demonstrations aimed at intimidating minorities[1][3].

The group members were found inside a U-Haul moving truck after a tip from a concerned citizen[1][3]. Among those arrested was the group's founder, Thomas R. Rousseau, and other known members like Kieran P. Morris, Garret J. Garland, and Mitchell F. Wagner[1][3]. The arrested individuals hailed from various states, including Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Arkansas[1][3]. The next court appearance for the arrested members is yet to be determined[1].

Citations: [1] https://washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/12/idaho-patriot-front-arrested/ [2] https://nytimes.com/2023/07/21/us/patriot-front-idaho-pride-convicted.html [3] https://opb.org/article/2022/06/12/31-patriot-front-members-arrested-near-idaho-pride-event/ [4] https://idahocapitalsun.com/2022/06/13/idaho-political-leaders-groups-react-to-reports-of-patriot-front-arrests-in-coeur-dalene/ [5] https://news.wttw.com/2022/06/12/31-members-white-supremacist-group-patriot-front-arrested-near-idaho-pride-event [6] https://drgnews.com/2023/07/21/pat

[malibu-barb]

Trixie's Happy New Year Cocktails at TITS at 6pm CST

Trixie DJ set at the Eagle in ATL on Saturday 7 Jan

Trixie Cosmetics Night Time Realness drops Friday 13 at 10 am PST

Trixie will be at GLOSS! Valentines Day in Weho, 14 February from 9pm onwards

Trixie and Katya Live rescheduled leg starts 16 Feb - 8 March (11 shows)

Trixie and Katya Bald and Beautiful podcast, live at the Auditoriun Theatre, Chicago, IL on 24 February

Trixie Mattel, dj'ng at Beauty Bar, Chicago, IL on 24 February

Trixie Mattel Pink Disco LA, Thursday 16 March at Zebulon

Trixie Mattel, DJ set at Meatballs Fat Slut St Patrick's Day at Precinct

Trixie Mattel Pink Disco Tour starts in Perth finishing Easter weekend in Sydney on 9 April (6 shows)

Katya Zamolodchikova, Artist Talk, April 8, MassArt - 6pm to 7.30pm

Trixie Mattel, DJ set at Evita - 22 April with Jaida Essence Hall

Trixie will be performing live at Palomino Stagecoach Festival on Friday 28 April.

Trixie will be at Trixie Motel, 29 April for Cocktails from 4-7 pm

Trixie will be at Trixie Motel, 30 April for Pink Pony Pool Party from 11am to 3pn

Trixie Mattel, Pink Disco music video taping

Katya Zamolodchikova's birthday - 1 May 1982

Trixie and Katya Bald and Beautiful podcast, live at The Novo, LAX on 13 May *(CANCELLED TBC)

Katya will be at Sydney Drag Expo 19-21 May *(CANCELLED)

Trixie Cosmetics Pillow Princess collection drops 26 May at 10am PT

Katya will headline at TITS on 31 May, for Pride 2023 from 10 pm onwards *(POSTPONED DATE TBC)

Veep presents Trixie and Katya Live - last show on June 1

Trixie Mattel, DJ set at Utah Pride, 2 June, Washington Square

Trixie Mattel, DJ set Solid Pink Disco at the Bourbon Room 12 June

Trixie Mattel, DJ Pink Disco Pier17, NY, June 22 w Katya Zamolodchikova

Trixie Mattel, will be at Gag the Party, July 20 at 10pm

Bald and Beautiful Live Fall Tour July - Dec 23. Tickets

Trixie is DJ at Rooftop Summer party on 28 July

Trixie Mattel's birthday - 23 August 1989

Trixie will be at Happy Land, PNE Amphitheater, 6 August

Katya will be at Drag Haus, Melbourne on 10 August (RESCHEDULED)

Palm Springs 🌴 Trixie Day is 1 Sep 2023

Trixie Mattel, Orville Peck - Pioneertown, California on 11-13 November

Trixie, Solid Pink Disco - Melbourne 2 Dec and Sydney 3 Dec

Trixie Mattel will be at Dreamland NYE 29-31 December.

Footnotes

Trixie and Katya in 2022

Trixie Mattel Pride 2023 DJ set

Bald and the Beautiful Podcasts (Spotify/ Apple Podcast come out before YouTube (which is usually the following day)).

Gooped Archives

[hose270]

On 2023

I stand upon the precipice of 2024, considering the errors made and chances missed before. Of joy, I think, of misery, of hope and of regret, and mental mirrors fill my head while watching the sun set.

A year ago, I focused on accomplishments and goals. My homework and my love left me no time to shape my soul. I got a job as a T.A.; I went to DLC; my roommate had a Nazi flag ‘cause he liked history.

I planned an awesome Valentine’s and gave a decent gift; we seemed to spend every weekend in Utah on a trip. I planned a sci-fi birthday heist and shared my favorite world with friends who loved it—but not her. In truth, that kinda hurt.

But not as much as did my throat for fourteen following days! Mononucleosis sucks; that’s all I have to say. I went to my first national scholastic conference and spoke about the views of a medieval feminist.

An angel from a comm class taught a lesson about friends: connections are created when you’re vulnerable with them. But when I tried to share myself, I felt she didn’t care. Afraid of getting something wrong, I asked for help in prayer.

And so I broke her heart—mine too— ere winter ceased her chills. I looked for peace in Hyrule’s fields and Idahoan hills. I failed to make connections both with Frisbees and with friends, but as I wrote “The Fount”, I felt my heart begin to mend.

I learned to recognize—to feel!— the power telling brings, and found a way to channel it through small and simple things. I went to Pride; I made a game about being the light; I made a movie for a class on dreams inspiring life.

A tabletop adventure with my friends taught me to quit obsessing over endings and look for beginnings. It was summer soon: my brothers and my father and I spent a week to bond and bike and hike all to our heart’s content.

My friend was wed; I soon realized that funds were a concern. No options left, I went where I’d swore never to return: the service deli, Albertsons. Although I made new friends, it still was hell; I felt relieved when school began again.

Dating sucks, I quickly learned, but tried it anyway, and finally found myself living with friendly, good roommates. A new FHE group of friends played Frisbee, which I caught! The PPC launched story to the forefront of my thoughts.

The Lump was taken for repair; I shared my poetry; watched FNAF—that girl got bit in half!— a Minion Halloween! And then a diagnosis shook my family’s world… but a promising prognosis eased the fledgling fear, somewhat.

Inside a cabin with new friends beside a mountaintop, I wrote my dreams and wished that I would never have to stop. I learned my lines as Death as I went home for turkey day, and realized I feel more like I’m at home when I’m away.

I wrote a book on rhetoric and playing D&D, and helped my friends reclaim a heart upon an endless sea. I went ice skating with a girl, delayed returning home, and spent my Christmas researching how stories help us grow.

And now I stand upon the edge of 2024, considering the choices made and lessons learned before. Of friends, I think, of amity, of hope and faith’s duet, and to this nascent year, I say, “You’ll be the best one yet.”

[nanowrimo]

30 Covers, 30 Days 2023: Day 19

Let's step back and explore a thrilling supernatural adventure! Day 19 is represented by LGBTQ+ novel Hollow Bonds by Rowan York! This cover was designed by the amazing returning designer, Sean Childers-Gray!

Hollow Bonds

When recently-turned vampire Remi Moreau is attacked by an unknown force he can't see, only the timely intervention of a stranger—Malcolm Blackburn, 'spare' heir to the most powerful witches' coven in the U.S.—saves his life... and when the pair learn that the spirit that attacked Remi marked him and will likely return, and that it may also have killed the missing friend Mal came to town to find, they must work together to stop it.

About the Author

The author has chosen to keep their identity a secret!

About the Designer

Sean Childers-Gray (he/they) Designer | Educator | Transgender Advocate

Sean has spent almost two decades working in the field of graphic design. He earned his MFA in Media Design from Full Sail University. He works as the BlendEd Learning Coordinator for Davis Technical College in Kaysville, Utah. He and his wife spend their free time volunteering for the LGBTQ+ community and he serves as the President and Marketing Director for Ogden Pride, creating festival materials, branding, environmental graphics, and more. He has been featured in PRINT Magazine’s Creative Voices series. You can read and subscribe to his work, The Shape of Our Dignity, on his Substack. Follow on Insta @s_childersgray

[tacticalhimbo]

Second Period Anti-trans Legislative Risk Map of 2023; Courtesy of Erin Reed (aka: ErinInTheMorn)

[Image ID: A color-coded map of the United States of America, with the states varying in colors.

The map’s symbolic key is unlabeled, but shows two symbols. The first is a light green circle with a white plus in the middle, and is representative of 'Imminent potential to lower risk category'. The second is a yellow triangle with a white exclamation point in the middle, and is representative of ;Imminent potential to raise risk category'.

The map's color key is labeled ‘Anti-trans Legislation Risk’.

States that are dark red are labeled 'Worst Active Anti-trans Laws’, and include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

States that are red are labeled 'High Risk Within 1 Election Cycle’, and include Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. States in this category that are at an imminent potential to raise their risk category include Kentucky, Idaho, Indiana, North Dakota, Montana, and West Virginia.

States that are orange are labeled 'Moderate Risk Within 1 Election Cycle’, and include Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wyoming. States in this category that are at an imminent potential to raise their risk category include Kansas.

States that are light teal are labeled 'Low Risk Within 1 Election Cycle’, and include Arizona, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. States in this category that are at an imminent potential to lower their risk category include Maryland, New Mexico, and Minnesota.

States that are teal are labeled 'Safest States With Protections’, and include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington D.C. / END Image ID]

More information below the cut, or on Erin’s Substack (which can be accessed by clicking the headline/title of the post).

The Worst States These states have passed the worst anti-transgender legislation or enforced existing laws against transgender already. The worst laws appear in these states. Texas is home to the weaponization of DFPS against transgender people, and 34 anti-trans bills proposed this cycle. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah have all also passed gender-affirming care bans for trans youth. Tennessee recently passed a bill banning drag in public that could even target pride. Oklahoma currently has the most anti-trans bills of any state proposed. Florida has banned medicaid coverage for trans adults and has some of the worst anti-trans bills proposed right now - including one that would allow the kidnapping of trans kids.

High-Risk States This list includes states that have seen proposed anti-trans bills last year that nearly passed, states that have already seen proposed bills that may pass this year, or states that otherwise have shown a willingness to target transgender people. Many states on this list are currently proposing bills that will send them into the ranks of the “worst states.” Mississippi, South Dakota, and Utah all moved off this list because of laws passed in those states. The Rocky Mountain West has seen extreme bills moving through at breakneck speeds. Montana has multiple bills that would make it very hard to exist as a transgender person, such as drag bans, healthcare bans, and bans defining transgender people out of the law entirely. Similar legislation is moving through other states in this region, with Wyoming being a notable exception - Wyoming is no longer in this risk category because it defeated the worst of its anti-trans legislation. Appalachian and Midwestern states are also seeing movement, with some states at imminent risk of moving up a risk category level. West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana all have medical bans and other broad reaching bills moving through the legislature. Kentucky’s HB470, for instance, is one of the harshest bills moving through a state legislature in the entire United States. This bill would ban name changes for trans youth. Other states on this map like Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa have healthcare bills moving through committee, though they have not passed a full legislative chamber vote as of the time of the making of this map. Virginia is also at high risk, even though it’s anti-trans bills were beaten this cycle. That is because Glen Youngkin is using the powers of the governorship to directly target transgender youth. Recently he released model anti-trans school policies that will result in forced outing of trans students, bathroom bans, pronoun bans, and more should they be adopted.

Moderate-Risk States This list of states has grown by one - Wyoming defeated most of its anti-trans laws and moves down into a moderate risk category. The rest of the states on this list represent special circumstances that make them hard to predict. North Carolina’s anti-trans medical care ban did not even get a committee hearing last year, and it was the site of the famous bathroom ban, which has made them hesitant to pass further legislation. There are bills that are moving there, and the veto override margin is very tight, should the Democratic governor veto them. Georgia is Republican controlled, but candidates have failed heavily on anti-trans stances. New Hampshire has a Republican majority, but one that has been more liberal than other states and has stayed away from passing anti-trans laws. Alaska has been relatively quiet on this front as well. Kansas has a Democratic governor, but the veto margin is similarly small there. Kansas deserves a special mention though as well as an exclamation point because several anti-trans bills have passed at least one legislative chamber there. This makes the state particularly risky, especially if any of the bills get sent to the governor.

Low-Risk States These states have a low risk of enacting extreme anti-transgender legislation within a single election cycle. Still, these states are unified by a lack of the strongest transgender protections. States like New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware all lack major healthcare protections for transgender people and are not currently considering refugee bills protecting trans people who are fleeing the aforementioned unsafe states. Some states like Minnesota maintain strong cultural acceptance of transgender people but still lack the legal protections of safe state laws and full medical coverage that the top states have, and a right-leaning election cycle could change the tide. Some states like Arizona and Wisconsin saw positive election results that make them likely low risk as Democratic governors have taken over. Three states - Minnesota and Maryland - are potentially next in line to move to the “Most Protective States” category if they successfully pass their landmark transgender protection bills. Minnesota currently has a bill that would protect transgender refugees and providers fleeing from other states. Maryland is considering a bill that would give those on Medicaid coverage for FFS, hair removal and more. If these bills pass, they will be elevated into the “most protective states” category. New Mexico is considering a bill that would protect the right to gender-affirming care.

Most Protective States Transgender people in these states are better protected culturally and legally than in other states. States like Hawaii, Colorado, and Washington maintain explicit transgender healthcare policies that cover surgeries that often go without coverage in other states. Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California are currently considering policies or have passed policies that protect transgender refugees fleeing from other states. Other states in this category like Illinois, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont maintain a strong history of transgender protections and show yearly legislation proposals to further protect transgender residents.

Many of the policies these states introduced are discussed by Erin on her Substack, so I seriously recommended subscribing (whether free via email or paid; Substack has both options) if you’re trans* or consider yourself an ally. Erin puts incredible work into tracking legislation and helping the community stay informed.

I’ve posted materials from her before, and cannot recommend them enough.

[dreamtofswallowingcoins]

The map has been updated!! As of June 25 2023-

[ID: a June 2023 map of the United States that uses reds, blues, and black to show the degree of safety for transgender people according to Erin Reed, a trans rights activist and journalist. END ID]

The states with the “worst active anti-trans laws” are colored dark red-

Alabama

Arkansas

Florida (colored black to designate a new category of “do not travel”)

Georgia

Idaho

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Montana

Oklahoma

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

States with “high risk within two years” are colored a lighter red-

North Carolina

Ohio

South Carolina

Virginia

West Virginia

Those with “moderate risk within two years” area light light red, almost pink-

Alaska

Wyoming

Low risk states, those with “low risk within two years”, are a light blue-

Arizona

Delaware

Maine

Michigan

Nevada

New Hampshire

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Wisconsin

Finally, the “safest states with protections” are a darker blue-

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Hawaii

Illinois

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Oregon

Vermont

Washington

Washington, D.C.

—

I highly recommend bookmarking her map and keeping up to date with it. Her website goes deeper into these categories and offers explanations for her ranking. Stay safe, everyone.

This map is the most up to date version as of 3-4-2023 and takes into account all recent movement on anti-trans legislation

[postopmalone]

Utah Pride 2023

[babygirlphil]

Oh you're really lost. Fine. I'll explain it.

On September 11th 2001, 24 year old Gerard Arthur Way was working as an animator at the Cartoon Network headquarters in New York City, when a plane struck the twin towers. After witnessing this event, Gerard decided that he wanted to do something that mattered instead of slogging away at a corporate job. So he decided to start a band. That band was My Chemical Romance.

Fast forward to 2014. The phandom (Dan and Phil fandom) is thriving on tumblr and so is their ship (phan). There was a lot of crossover with fans of MCR, Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco, aka The Emo Trinity. This led to one fan unknowingly changing the course of history by posting the following imagine:

"No but seriously imagine it:

You’re seeing fall out boy on a concert. Everyone is having a great time. Fall out boy seem a little excited. “We have a surprise for you guys.” Partick says. All of a sudden P!ATD come out and start singing “this is gospel.” When Brendon gets to the chorus, someone else starts singing… “When I was a young boy my father took me into the city to see a marching band.” Lights flash everywhere, and you see FOB singing “this is gospel” along with P!ATD, while MCR is singing “Black parade”. Everyone in the crowd is going wild and crying. Then if things couldn’t get any better, Dan and Phil walk onto stage and kiss, holding the gay flag."

Pretty harmless, if not a bit cringe.

Years later, however, the post got reblogged by popular tumblr user @/heritageposts. After that, it became a meme that spread outside of tumblr to the rest of the internet.

Fast forward AGAIN to October 2023. Dan and Phil are back to making videos together on their joint gaming channel after 5 years of being solo creators. They are both out and proud and their romantic relationship is an open secret amongst fans.

On October 11th, MCR and FoB are announced as the headliners of the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ok, that alone isn't TOO much of a coincidence. They were the kings of the emo scene after all. However...the festival also happens to fall on the 15th anniversary of Dan and Phil meeting for the first time.

The internet goes WILD. How could the stars have aligned THIS perfectly?! Adding fuel to the flames, Phil Lester then quote retweets the announcement with "no seriously imagine it". Now the internet is ABLAZE. He knows about the meme?! Does that mean they might do something for the bit??? No way...unless?

Fast forward yet AGAIN to June 2024. Dan and Phil announce the dates for their new tour and they just so happen to have October 19th off. Not only that...but it's between their LA and Salt Lake City, Utah shows. If you don't know anything about US geography, the fastest route from LA to Salt Lake City is through Nevada.

The internet is SCREAMING. They MUST have planned their tour this way because they're going to the festival, right??? Will the prophecy (or phrophecy) actually be fulfilled???

Then Dan and Phil stoke the flames even MORE when they take a selfie of themselves with a fan's cardboard cutout of Gerard Way at one of their shows and Phil says "we need this for the thing on the thing day".

The day finally comes. The When We Were Young festival is in full swing. People are waiting with baited breath to see if Dan and Phil will take the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever. It gets close to the end of the day and people are starting to give up hope. When finally...FINALLY, Dan and Phil post a TikTok. The TikTok you came across and were probably baffled by.

And that's why 9/11 is indirectly responsible for Dan and Phil posting a video where they almost kiss while holding the gay pride flag.

Note: I said GAY pride flag because of the wording of the original post :)

Tl;dr: MCR wouldn't have been created if 9/11 never happened. If MCR never existed, then the "no but seriously imagine it" post would have never been made. The emo scene might not have blown up the way it did either, meaning the When We Were Young Festival would have never happened. Hence, 9/11 led to Dan and Phil almost kissing while holding the gay pride flag.

[cksmart-world]

SMART BOMB

The Completely Unnecessary News Analysis

By Christopher Smart  

June 13, 2023

TRUMP'S NEXT ACT PROMISES TO INCLUDE MAGIC

It's time for liberals, progressives, Democrats, Independents and just about everybody else to recognize that we owe the once and future king, Donald Trump, a big thank you and vote of gratitude — where else can you get entertainment like this. It's so sidesplitting hilarious that it belongs in the pantheon of comedic slapstick right alongside “It's a Mad, Mad Mad World” and “Dr. Strangelove.” He would even make Shakespeare envious, although his work skews more toward “King Lear” than “Much Ado About Nothing.” What genius it takes to appeal to both hedge fund managers and coal miners, to yachtsmen and bikers, to white nationalists and bigots. For some he appears as “A Man for All Seasons,” although for many he recalls “The Madness of King George.” In any event he leaves his audiences on the edge of their seats, as though unable to turn away from a bloody accident accompanied by an organ grinder and monkey. Despite his age the hits just keep coming. His latest productions, “Hush Money for the Harlot,” “I Have a Secret” and “Winning Through Intimidation,” look to be blockbusters. Reminiscent of escape artist Harry Houdini, Donald's next act promises to include magic — or at least magical thinking: “I'm an Innocent Man.”

“PRIDE” BUS DRIVES GOP LAWMAKERS OVER THE EDGE

Now don't go thinking our nice white Mormon legislators have queerphobia. Not at all. When they flipped out over a UTA bus sporting an add that said “Work With Pride” scheduled to run in the Gay Pride Parade, it was to make state taxpayer funded entities follow their “true mission” — not because they're bigoted culture warriors. The bus ad was paid for by two local advertising agencies, ran in last year's parade and was in service until June 2 of this year when all hell broke loose. “This is causing me a whole bunch of drama right now inside my caucus,” Utah House Majority Leader Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, told the Deseret News.“[I]f we have state agencies that continue to go into the areas that are controversial, then all things would be on the table.” Yeah, like their heads. Think of it: If children saw that bus they could turn into drag queens. OMG. The “woke” ideology is stamping out good conservative discrimination and pushing the notion that even freaks have rights. What's going to happen when boys become girls and girls become boys. Who's going to do the housework? If men marry men and women marry women, who's going to have babies? And if women become men and men become women what's going to happen to our national religion — Football. God help us.

LDS LEADERS TO FAITHFUL: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

The top brass at the Mormon Church has done something mind blowing. They are advising the faithful to vote for political candidates who are more Christlike. Holy smokes! You're right Wilson, it's a real conversation stopper. Utah is a Red State and the vast majority of voters are Mormons who reflexively vote Republican, according to Salt Lake Tribune sports/religious pundit Gordon Monson. “It hasn’t mattered if candidates are inferior to their opponents or completely unsuitable for office. Candidates with an “R” next to their name are in and whoever they are running against are out.” OK, here's a test: when you hear the name Sen. Mike Lee do you think of Jesus Christ or a cripto-currency trader. When you hear the name Rep. Burgess Owens do you think of St. Peter or the peddler of multi-level marketing schemes. When you hear the name Chris Stewart do you think of St. Paul or a used car salesman. Maybe church bigwigs are aiming a too high. What if they just said, vote for people who aren't lying hypocrites and put country ahead of party. You're right, Wilson, we're being ridiculous. The whole point of religion is to keep people from thinking for themselves, kinda like the GOP. It is, after all, for their own safety — thinking could get them into some very deep... um, fertilizer.

Post script — That's going to do it for another beautiful week behind the Zion Curtain, where the staff here at Smart Bomb keeps track of gerrymandering so you don't have to. Despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Georgia Republicans are guilty of gerrymandering to keep Blacks out of office, four Utah congressmen — Chris Stewart, Burgess Owens, John Curtis and Blake Moore — say the U.S. Constitution doesn't say stink about the practice, so you can take your Utah lawsuit, fold it five ways and stick it where the moon don't shine. They're talking about an action brought by the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government that alleges voting maps drawn by the Republican-dominated Utah Legislature look like a jigsaw puzzle made by a drunk. In 2018, Utah voters approved the formation of a non-partisan commission to draw voting maps. But it was summarily neutered by Republican lawmakers. Tribune soothsayer Robert Gehrke reminds us that the Utah Constitution guarantees the fundamental right to vote in free and fair elections. For their part, GOP lawmakers say everyone CAN vote and their ballot Does count as long as it's a Republican vote. See, a one-party state works just fine. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Well Wilson, we're still stuck in the Donald Trump nightmare. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up to a world without the scourge of Trumpism — the lies, anger and hatred. So what do you and the guys in the band have that might help us transcend the hypocrisy and rancor that define our political landscape, at least for a brief respite:  

'Twas in another lifetime one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue, the road was full of mud I came in from the wilderness a creature void of form "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

Not a word was spoke between us there was little risk involved Everything up to that point had been left unresolved Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

I was burned out from exhaustion buried in the hail Poisoned in the bushes and blown out on the trail Hunted like a crocodile ravaged in the corn "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Well the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount But nothing really matters much it's doom alone that counts And the one-eyed undertaker he blows a futile horn "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning dove

And old men with broken teeth stranded without love Do I understand your question man, is it hopeless and forlorn? "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

(Shelter From The Storm — Bob Dylan)

[pashterlengkap]

Target stores in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah have recently received bomb threats as right-wingers continue their campaign against the retailer’s LGBTQ+-themed Pride merchandise. “Violent threats” have also been issued against GLSEN, the LGBTQ+ student advocacy organization that has partnered with Target for over a decade. Bomb threats were made to Target stores in Layton, Salt Lake City, Taylorsville, and Provo, KUTV reported. Layton Police Sgt. John Ottesen said the emailed threats referenced the store’s Pride merchandise, were three sentences long, and came from a “bogus email address,” Ottesen added. --- Related Stories Heroic Target employees kick out anti-LGBTQ+ bigot complaining about “Satanic” Pride gear When asked if she supports Satanism and “Pride propaganda,” the employee nods and says she supports “both.” --- Four Ohio-based Target stores in Jackson Township, Boardman, Stow, Niles, and an additional store in Monaca, Pennsylvania also received bomb threats. The threats were sent to the WOIO-TV news station and mentioned the Pride merchandise. The author claimed to be an LGBTQ+ person who pledged to plant more bombs in protest of the retailer’s discontinuation of some LGBTQ+-themed merchandise. Get the Daily Brief The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you. A Target spokesperson said police investigated the threats and declared the stores safe. “The safety of our team members and guests is our top priority,” the spokesperson added. GLSEN also reported receiving “an onslaught of hateful messages and threats to our mission and the physical safety of our staff” as right-wing media outlets spread “harmful and vicious lies” about the organization and its work, GLSEN wrote in a May 27 statement. Fox News, for example, falsely claimed that GLSEN has been “pushing for kids’ genders to be secretly changed in schools without parental consent” and “providing sexually explicit books to schools for free.” As evidence of their claims, the right-wing media outlet pointed to GLSEN’s guidelines suggesting that schools only disclose a student’s trans or nonbinary identity to their parents with the student’s consent. Fox News also noted that GLSEN’s “Rainbow Library” of free books for classrooms includes Beyond Magenta, a book that includes one trans person’s recollections of child sexual abuse. “GLSEN’s Rainbow Library provides age-appropriate, inclusive literature — none of which is sexually explicit,” GLSEN wrote in its statement. “Books are selected based on reviews from major journals, such as School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Booklist Reviews, along with feedback from hundreds of educators and school librarians.” The group added, “GLSEN will always fight back against policies that force educators to jeopardize student safety.” In an Instagram post, GLSEN asked followers to donate money, pledge support to LGBTQ+ youth, and repost their Instagram images combatting Fox’s coverage. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO, wrote in a statement, “Right-wing media spread dangerous lies about GLSEN yesterday and put a target on them. It is now our duty to join together as a community and show support and love to the hard-working staff and leaders at GLSEN.” Last week, Target said it would be “making adjustments” to its 2023 Pride collection in response to “violent” customer backlash. The store wrote that, since introducing the collection, the retailer had experienced “threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being.” The backlash included anti-LGBTQ+ conservatives recording their visits to the store and accusing store workers of supporting “Satanism” and pedophilia. “Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior,” Target wrote. Store locations in South Carolina, Arkansas, and Georgia relocated their Pride displays and removed Pride apparel from mannequins to reduce their visibility. http://dlvr.it/SpsKJd

[asha-crow-and-solus]

Neat development on a rather old post

As of January 2023, Brandon Sanderson added this to the FAQ on his website, outlining his change in position over the years. I encourage you to read it yourself if you haven't (though any fan would likely already have, I suppose).

Most notable is his statement that he believes gay marriage should not only be legal, but that he believes it should be recognised by the Mormon church

"My current stance is one of unequivocable support for LGBTQ+ rights. I support gay marriage. I support trans rights, the rights of non-binary people, and I support the rights of trans people to affirm their own identity with love and support. I support anti-discrimination legislation, and have voted consistently along these lines for the last fifteen years. I am marking the posting of this FAQ item, at the encouragement of several of my LGBTQ+ fans, with a sizable donation to the Utah Pride Center and another to The OUT Foundation."

...

"I look forward to seeing further changes in the church, and I work to make sure I am helping from within it to create a place that is welcoming of LGBTQ+ people and ideas.

I would love, for example, to see the church recognize gay marriage among its members. Both temporally and eternally. I would support ordaining trans men to the priesthood. (And would support the ordination of women, though that is another issue.)"

Excerpt in regards to the essay on the essay he wrote dumbledore's sexuality:

"...For that reason, I don’t regret writing the essay. The alternative would have been to remain quiet, and therefore never learn. I appreciate greatly those who are willing to talk, rather than yell. Those who encourage, rather than despise. I hope that I am able to learn from their examples and show similar understanding.

In return, I’d like to be very clear. I apologize, deeply, for the pain I brought you. For both my unaware bigotry and the bad decisions I made with eyes wide open. I am trying to do better"

He does make it clear that he will not be distancing himself from the church:

"I will not disavow my faith. To do so would be pandering, because it is not where my heart is. I am proud to be a member of this church, and am proud of my heritage in it."

Brandon Sanderson is Homophobic: What You Need to Know

In 2007, after JK Rowling posted that Dumbledore was gay, Sanderson wrote a blog post in which he said some extraordinarily homophobic things, including that he would vote against gay marriage. He writes some almost-interesting and mostly-probably-inaccurate things about JK Rowling’s decision to have Dumbledore be gay. And then he says this: (tw homophobia) “Another note to those who might be reading this who are, themselves, gay. No, I don’t believe that homosexuality can—in many cases, at least—be treated and ‘cured.’ I do believe, however, that impulses of attraction between people of the same gender are something that can and should be resisted, in the same way that my impulses of attraction toward women who are not my wife can and should be resisted. You probably believe differently. I’m okay with that. End note.” Comparing being gay to cheating on your wife is always super classy (ew).

In 2011, it turns out Sanderson had learned some from his mistakes. He admits that he now realizes much of what he said was offensive, and that coming from a place of being white, straight, and male, puts him in a position of privilege. He also now supports gay marriage. That said, he thinks that everyone should be able to have civil unions, and that marriage should become a religious term. Right. He then says, “I cannot be deaf to the pleas of gay couples who want important things, such as hospital visitation rights, shared insurance, and custody rights. At the same time, I accept and sustain the leaders of the LDS church. I believe that a prophet of God has said that widespread legislation to approve gay marriage will bring pain and suffering to all involved.” Ok, so yes, he’s improved and learned some, and yes, he agrees LGBTQA+ people should have their legal rights. But does he? Because apparently it will bring “pain and suffering to all involved.” So how much has he really learned?

This happened a while ago, but has recently resurfaced, and seems to be the most recent update. Obviously…this is really disappointing to all fans of Sanderson’s work. I will be finishing the Stormlight Archive because I’m 2/3 of the way through and need to know what happens to his main characters, but I think I probably will just skip writing a review. I’ll also try not to support it with my dollars. And I will not be reading the Mistborn series as I’d planned. 

Update: There was a 2015 AMA in which he seemed to accept the passing of gay marriage with a lot of worries and maybes and skepticism on both sides, but again, not great. He says that it’s not up to him, but it is important to note that taking yourself out of the conversation is not the same as changing your mind, learning, or apologizing. But his statement is part of the story, so I encourage you to check it out.

It sucks to find out your faves think such awful, homophobic things, and have a lot of faith in them as well. I had really begun to fall in love with his books, so this is a real shame.

[drowdigital0]

Top 10+ Digital Marketing Companies in USA 2023

In today's digital age, it is no secret that having a strong online presence is vital for any business's success. However, with so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which digital marketing agency is best for your company's specific needs. That's why we've compiled a list of the top 10+ digital marketing companies in the USA for 2023, to help you make an informed decision.

WebFX: Based in Pennsylvania, WebFX is a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in SEO, PPC, social media, and more. With over 20 years of experience, they have a proven track record of delivering results.

DrowDigital: This award-winning agency, headquartered in Canada, has a strong presence in the USA. They offer a variety of services, including SEO, PPC, social media, and email marketing.

Disruptive Advertising: Disruptive Advertising, based in Utah, is a data-driven agency that focuses on PPC advertising. They have worked with both small and large businesses, delivering measurable results.

Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: This Texas-based agency offers a range of digital marketing services, including SEO, PPC, web design, and social media. They pride themselves on delivering personalized solutions that meet their clients' unique needs.

Single Grain: Single Grain, based in California, specializes in SEO, PPC, and content marketing. They work with a variety of businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

WebpageFX: Another Pennsylvania-based agency, WebpageFX offers SEO, PPC, web design, and more. They have a strong focus on data-driven strategies and have worked with clients in a variety of industries.

Directive Consulting: Directive Consulting, based in California, is a B2B-focused agency that specializes in SEO and PPC. They have a proven track record of delivering results for their clients.

Digital Shift: Digital Shift, headquartered in Canada, offers a range of digital marketing services, including SEO, PPC, social media, and web design. They work with clients across North America and have a strong focus on ROI-driven strategies.

Titan Growth: Titan Growth, based in California, is a full-service agency that offers SEO, PPC, and content marketing. They have worked with clients in a variety of industries, from healthcare to e-commerce.

Straight North: Straight North, based in Illinois, offers SEO, PPC, web design, and more. They have a focus on lead generation and have delivered measurable results for their clients.

Digital Marketing Agency (DMA): DMA, based in New York, offers a variety of digital marketing services, including SEO, PPC, social media, and email marketing. They work with clients across industries, including healthcare, education, and finance.

Radd Interactive: Based in California, Radd Interactive is a full-service agency that specializes in SEO, PPC, and web design. They have a strong focus on local SEO and have worked with clients in a variety of industries.

In conclusion, choosing the right digital marketing agency in the USA can be challenging, but with this list of top 10+ companies for 2023, you can narrow down your options and make an informed decision. Consider your specific needs and goals, and choose an agency that has a proven track record of delivering results.

[brookston]

Holidays 1.11

Holidays

Amelia Earhart Day

Art Deco Day

Banana Boat Day

Burning of the Clavie (Tar Barrel; Burghead, Scotland)

Children’s Day (Tunisia)

Cigarettes Are Hazardous To Your Health Day

Cuckoo Dancing Week begins [until 1.17]

Designated Hitter Day

Eugenio Maria de Hostos Day (Puerto Rico)

Girl Hug Boy Day

Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Heritage Treasures Day (UK)

Insulin Day

International Paget’s Awareness Day

International Parity at Work Day

International Thank You Day (Portugal)

Jump in a Puddle and Splash Someone Day

Kosrae (Constitution Day; Micronesia)

Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day

Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day

Lottery Day

Martha Hughes Cannon Day (Utah)

Missionary Day (Mizoram, India)

National Arkansas Day

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

National Marketing Day

National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day

National Unity Day (Nepal)

No Longer New Year’s Day

Republic Day (Albania)

Secret Pal Day

Send a Dollar to the Treasury Day

Sir John A. MacDonald Day (Canada)

Smoking May Be Hazardous To Your Health Day

Tattoo Pride Day

Thank You Card

Use More of Your Mind Day

World Sketchnote Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

German Apples Day (Germany)

Kagami Biraki ("Opening the Mirror," referring to opening a cask of sake; Japan)

Milk Bottle Day

National Hot Toddy Day

National Milk Day

Rhubarb Day

2nd Wednesday in January

National Take the Stairs Day [2nd Wednesday]

Independence Days

Free State of Sabini (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Independence Manifesto Day (Morocco)

Feast Days

Al Capone Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Alice Paul (Humanism)

Anastasius of Suppentonia (Roman Catholic)

Carmentalia (Old Roman Festival to 9 Muses; also 1.15)

Cyrus (Positivist; Saint)

Feast of Sokar (Ancient Egypt)

Hyginus, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Juturnalia (Prophetic Waters Festival)

Leucius of Brindisi (Roman Catholic)

Mary Slessor (Church of England)

Paldo, Taso and Tato (Christian; Saints)

Paulinus II of Aquileia (Christian; Saint)

Penne for Your Thoughts Day (Pastafarian)

Riff (Muppetism)

Theodosius the Cenobiarch (Christian; Saint)

Thomas of Cori (Christian; Saint)

Vitalis of Gaza (Roman Catholic)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 11 [5 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [5 of 37]

Unglückstage (Unlucky Day; Pennsylvania Dutch) [6 of 30]

Premieres

An American in Paris (Film; 1952)

Banshee (TV Series; 2013)

Donald’s Decision (Disney Cartoon; 1942)

His Girl Friday (Film; 1940)

The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross (TV Series; 1983)

The Nut Job (Animated Film; 2014)

Please Please Me, by The Beatles (Song; 1963)

Purple Haze, recorded by Jimi Hendrix (Song; 1967)

Today’s Name Days

Paulin, Paulinus, Ronan, Theodosius (Austria)

Časlav, Honorat, Neven (Croatia)

Bohdana (Czech Republic)

Hyginus (Denmark)

Osvald, Ove (Estonia)

Kari, Karri (Finland)

Hortense, Pauline (France)

Thomas (Germany)

Theodosios, Theodosis (Greece)

Ágota (Hungary)

Igino (Italy)

Arkādijs, Franciska, Smaida (Latvia)

Audrius, Marcijonas, Stefanija, Vilnė (Lithuania)

Børge, Børre (Norway)

Feliks, Hilary, Honorata, Hygin, Krzesimir, Matylda, Mechtylda (Poland)

Teodosie (Romania)

Malvína (Slovakia)

Higinio (Spain)

Jan, Jannike (Sweden)

Bethany, Darby, Derby, Dermot, Kermit, Kermore, Rhett (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 11 of 2023; 354 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 2 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Beth (Birch) [Day 18 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Dōngyuè), Day 20 (Ji-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 18 Teveth 5783

Islamic: 18 Jumada II 1444

J Cal: 11 Aer; Foursday [11 of 30]

Julian: 29 December 2022

Moon: 81%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 11 Moses (1st Month) [Cyrus]

Runic Half Month: Peorth (Womb, Dice Cup) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 22 of 90)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 21 of 30)