feature image by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Monday again! Well, as I write this it’s actually Sunday night and I’m snacking on a ridiculous grilled cheese made with Swiss and coupled with a rosé because that’s what was in my fridge, and listening to this terribly good playlist that Laura Wooley compiled for us a couple of years ago. She asked every Autostraddle team member to submit the song they felt was the most beautiful song in the world. Listening to it is a lot like walking off an elevator into the secret middle of the person who submitted the song. Why did they find this the most beautiful? What can you learn about a person based on their choice? Lots of us gave explanations about our songs, but a handful of us didn’t. I didn’t. I didn’t have the words and I still don’t. My song sounds kind of sad on the surface? But then again it feels like just being yourself, too. Like Sunday nights. It feels like Sunday night to me. Like you don’t have to talk to anyone on Sunday nights, but that doesn’t mean you’re not thinking about them.
One Sunday night I sat on the back porch with my grandmother and watched a red fox eat the scraps she’d tossed under an oak tree. She said, “Looka there.” And I did, and then we didn’t make another sound until that fox filled itself up and left. She let her cigarette ashes fall in her cupped hand instead of turning around to the ashtray. I wanted to burn it into my soft wooden brain because I hadn’t seen a fox before, and I haven’t seen one since.
Anyway though, Sundays! I hope you had a good one.
Queer as in F*ck You
+ Study Finds That LGBTQ Bullying Has Terrible Longterm Mental Health Consequences! Who knew.
+ SoJourner McCauley, a Bronx Lesbian Activist, Looks Back — And Forward.
+ Alaina Leary resiliently shares her story here: Why I Changed My Name After I Was Raped.
+ Carmen shared this yesterday but I’m still not over it.
+ A quick heads up that Evan Rachel Wood Smells Like the Earth, in case you didn’t already want to [consensually!] bury your face in her neck.
+ The headline reads St. Vincent Made a Sexy, Funky Rolling Stones Cover for Tilda Swinton’s New Movie, As If We Weren’t Already Swooning, and that really truly sums it all up. Here’s the video!
Doll Parts
+ Hasbro’s New Star Wars Toys Feature Some Amazing Women.
+ Katie Klabusich is here to explain What Justice Scalia’s Death Means for Your Reproductive Rights.
+ Why I Was Shocked to Enjoy the Deadpool Movie by Rebecca Watson.
+ Maybe you can relate to this piece by Dawn Claflin: I Hate Babies. Just read it, I promise it’s good.
+ Hey! Queer Mama Haley Jude has gifted you with the second interview in her video series for Mutha Magazine, Real Muthas, and you’re gonna love it a bunch! Skedaddle over there and soak up some of the beautiful real truth of mama-ing.
Saw This, Thought of You
+ First things first: The Day Beyoncé Turned Black.
+ What Made Scalia and Ginsburg’s Friendship Work.
+ Simran Sethi: “We’re Losing Biodiversity in Foods”.
+ This is the reason I turned to Laura’s playlist this weekend. It’s from 2014 but I still loved it and maybe you will too. In Search of the Perfect Love Song.
+ WHY IS VOICEMAIL STILL A THING. Attn: Riese Bernard.
And Finally
You want to make this DIY Memory Game! Just think of the possibilities! I can’t even keep typing there are just too many amazing—
