Sunday Funday Salutes Our Lesbians In Lanyards
Happy Sunday! This week I celebrated liberation all alone by making Alison Roman’s Passover menu (everything except the chopped liver because I really just could not justify another grocery store run for something there was a high chance I wouldn’t even wanna try). Then I celebrated liberation with my friends and watched the Rugrats‘ Passover special. And today I’m making the same meal as my mom as she celebrates Easter and I jam out to gospel music and think about how no matter what religious tradition I find myself in, they all know deeply that there is another world possible.
To quote Oprah, “let’s celebrate that!!” with some good news!
+ Need a book to read? Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall is a great option!
+ Whether Jewish or Gentile, spending your Sunday morning watching a Saturday evening Passover Seder from all your faves is a great way to pass some time.
+ Rachel offered up some words about Phyllis Lyon’s life and impact earlier this week, and here’s another tribute to this lesbian civil rights’ activist.
+ Lesbians wearing lanyards WILL save us!
+ This is a bit older, but it’s never too late to talk about The Color Purple!!
âI think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and donât notice it,” Shug says in the novel. The color purple has also historically been associated with lesbian desire. Through the emergence of lesbian love comes the emergence of Celieâs self-love and ultimate liberation, which leads to a âhappy resolution,” even though it isnât entirely clear whether Celie and Shugâs final reunion means theyâre reunited as lovers or as friends.
If Walker teaches us anything through the poignancy of her writing, it is that these different themes do not take away from each other, but rather, are necessary to talk about as a collective. âThe Color Purple,” in all its complexities, is a singular gem of sublime lesbian representation in a century-long tradition of Pulitzer prestige.
+ Queer Harlem Renaissance: A Prospectus is a 15-minute film about the queer pioneers of the time.
+ With “Todxs Nosotrxs”, a new eight-episode Portuguese-language series from HBO Latin America focusing on the lives of three different queer friends in SĂŁo Paulo, HBO is committing to increasing its queer latinx representation.
+ There’s a new text service that’ll send messages of support to trans folks
+ Glamour finally added a queer element to their “exes” series!!!
Happy Spring babes. I just looked directly at the Sun as some clouds rolled in front of it because it looked so beautiful! The birds are chirping! Everything is GREEN and coming alive around us! In Texas, the wildflowers are blooming and weather at night is perfect for keeping your windows open. There is panic and scary contagion spreading across the globe, but also, Mother Nature knows what she is doing! She will survive. Turn off all your technology and listen to her for a little bit, if you need some influence this week. I love you and you’re doing so dang great!
Also.Also.Also: Former Viral Video Star Rebecca Black Comes Out as Queer, Just Before “Friday”
Wow, drinking over 64oz of water a day is so much water!! How do you people do this? How do you take care of your body and stay hydrated? I need a nap.
Queer as in F*ck You
From Heather Hogan: “In a time of endless Fridays â what in the worldâs a weekend, weekend â Rebecca Black has decided not to catch the bus to see her friends (her friends), but instead to stay home and come out.” And Autostraddle’s resident music expert Abeni would like you to know that her most recent songs really aren’t THAT BAD?? Â (Rebecca Black Speaks About Her Sexuality, Identifies as Queer)
And speaking of, Pop Music Has Always Been Queer.
PLOT TWIST! Turns out, that lesbian astronaut DIDN’T do a financial space crime against her wife, it looks the wife made it up! Oh, you can’t quite remember the original story? Don’t worried, we have you covered.
Happy 30th Birthday, babe. 15 Hot Photos of Kristen Stewart.
Excuse me but Lucy Lawless HERSELF will be hosting a marathon of her iconic lesbian fantasy series, Xena: Warrior Princess, on the SYFY network.The marathon starts next Thursday, Apr. 16 and will be on every Thursday after that.
But I couldnât focus. Whatâs more, news aside, I could barely read. Instead, I ate an unusually large quantity of salt-and-vinegar chips. I was exhausted, but I slept badly, intermittently. I cried. Long-held desires and goals felt hazy, at times irrelevant. The days blurred together; deadlines pressed close. I couldnât fully recall why Iâd ever cared so much about books, words.
Other people who couldnât stay home were going to work every day â many without the option, the privilege, of doing otherwise â while here I was, home, and I couldnât, of all things, write. Yes, thereâs a pandemic, and yes, I felt by turns anxious, furious, and terrified, but itâs 2020 in America, and Iâve felt quite anxious, furious and terrified for a while. The inability to work, though, was new.
But then it occurred to me, as I ate another astringent chip, that this lassitude, the trouble focusing, the sleep difficulties, my exhaustion: Oh yes, I thought, I remember this. I was grieving. I was grieving in early March, Iâm still grieving now, and chances are, you are, too.
R.O. Kwon on Grieving a Pandemic for The New York Times
Saw This, Thought of You
Fran Lebowitz Is Never Leaving New York
âI Just Need the Comfortâ: Processed Foods Make a Pandemic Comeback
Corporate Buzzwords Are How Workers Pretend to Be Adults. NEVER FORGET: Â “I have been at probably every powerful table that you can think of, I have worked at nonprofits, I have been at foundations, I have worked in corporations, served on corporate boards, I have been at G-summits, I have sat in at the U.N.: They are not that smart.” â Michelle Obama
(when Natalie sends me a sports link or a politics link, I include the sports or politics link. Those are the rules. This one has both đđŸ) Kelly Loeffler: The WNBA Owner Against Everything the League Stands For. The Republican senator wants to keep politics out of sports. But her views on everything from guns to abortion are alienating many fans.
Meet Your Meme Lords. A small team of kickass nerdy women at the Library of Congress are archiving internet culture as fast as they can.
An Eye-Popping Salute to the Golden Age of 20th Century Dandyism, circa 1968-75. Let’s play a fun game called: Spot the lesbian fashion!
Political Snacks
Also.Also.Also: The Perfect Pandemic Playlist, for Your Perfect Queer Fingertips
Hey there, it’s been a while since we properly talked. I’m making nachos for dinner and right now I can’t decide if I should make frozen margaritas to go with them, or keep it simple with a beer? (I don’t usually have these options, but my bar is currently Corona-stocked). One is definitely more work, but also would be a new and different treat? The other is so much easier, and always satisfying. Who’s to say where this journey will lead.
If you’re wondering, after baking two (2!!) loaves of banana bread in two (2!!) weeks, this week I switched to banana bread blondies â and they are, in fact, heaven.
Ok, here is some news.
Queer as in F*ck You
In writing YA, I am able to imagine what I might have done if I were 16 or 17 again, knowing what I know now. I am able to put a little of myself in my characters, but instead of doing what I did, I can make them take the risk, or break the rule. I am able to imagine what it would have done for me to be around queer people and influences sooner â just to know they existed, to know there wasnât only one way to be.
Writing for Teens Is a Do-Over, a first person essay by Katie Heaney that you DEFINITELY will want to read today and is going to give you a lot of melancholy nostalgia if you were a shy teen nerd who didn’t come out in high school (or maybe that’s just me?).
Sort of on the subject? The Gay History of Americaâs Classic Childrenâs Books, which was actually published last year from The New York Times but got re-upped again in honor of Tomie dePaola’s recent passing.
Samantha Irby’s Perfect Pandemic Playlist
How Trans And Nonbinary People Are Coping Right Now
Each day there are new bursts of color in the yard. There is no more traffic. The 405, a freeway normally packed with cars crawling along, is hauntingly empty. The smog is gone and the sky is crystal clear. During the day, I hear birds singing sweet songs. At night I see the stars, impossibly bright and shining. Dystopias always imagine the end of the world as dark and desolate. We should have had bigger imaginations.
Roxane Gay on power in a pandemic.
Saw This, Thought of You
tracee ellis ross giving me what i need to survive this week pic.twitter.com/rhv1EmrjzL
— gabe bergado (@gabebergado) April 6, 2020
đ
Here’s the link: The Health Benefits of Masturbation
âIt seems extra cruel to make time slow down when all we want to do is get through this time faster, but trust me: that we will get through this very slowly is only thing of which Iâm certain.” Chronic Uncertainty: Lessons for a Global Pandemic, From a Permanently Sick Person by EsmĂ© Weijun Wang
Migrants Are the Unsung Heroes of the Pandemic â From Hospitals to Farmlands
Domestic Abuse Rises Worldwide During Covid-19
How to Protect Your Zoom Calls Against âZoombombingâ
Helping Your Dog Survive During a Quarantine and Managing Boredom When You Canât Leave Your House
Political Snacks
Despite Coronavirus Lockdown, Wisconsin Republicans Insist on an Election That Will Disenfranchise Thousands “There’s nothing fair about this election.”
And WOWÂ THIS IS VERY MUCH RELATED: How to Fix Our Voting Rules Before November
There’s still time, maybe we won’t be f*cked.
Sunday Funday Is Ready With VIP Couch Access to the Hottest Queer Zoom Clubs
Hello and welcome to your weekly reminder of what day of the week it is! Have your pets rioted yet because no matter what they do, you won’t leave their house? Has it rained non-stop for 4 days? Have you remembered that this new way of life requires newer, gentler rhythms?
Well, welcome to life in a pandemic and welcome to Sunday Funday. Here’s some news:
+ Starring faves such as Cate Blanchett, Uzo Aduba, and Sarah Paulson, Mrs. America is about the woman who opposed the ERA and is weird but also…..unfortunately…..as a lesbian……..very hot. Plus, it premieres April 15 on Hulu!
âUnorthodox” is a beautiful show, and Esty is a magnificent character. Her harrowing coming-of-age tale is universal, and I feel like many of us, religious and secular, will see ourselves in certain moments of the portrayal.
A show this profoundly human is exactly what we need now, in days where we all feel so lonely and so detached from our communities â and so scared that things will be this way forever. âUnorthodox” reminds us that life is a constant search, that happiness is not always the end goal, and that sometimes you just have to work through some â pardon my French â real tough shit before you come through on the other side.
+ Here’s some history for you: Empress Theodosia and the medieval history of women’s rights. This badass changed laws to make all rape punishable by death. Wow, I love her.
+ Lessons we can learn from African feminists who are mobilizing amidst the COVID-19 crisis: “Make visible the frontline work that women are doing to care for their communities. Prioritize those most impacted. Take a feminist approach to leadership â which includes self-care.”
+ With your new time, maybe listen the the Dior Talks about feminist art, especially this one: Judy Chicago on art, work, and Dior.
+ Fiebre Tropical is full of queer Latinx desire
+ Quibi is coming and I don’t know what it is, but I know you can watch queer stuff on it!
+ More on queer virtual nightlife and how it’s saving lots of stressed out LGBTQ folks right now.
Forty-six years ago, on April 2, 1974, out lesbian Kathy Kozachenko was elected to the Ann Arbor City Council in Michigan â becoming the first openly gay person elected to political office in the United States. Then a 21-year-old University of Michigan student campaigning under the local (and now defunct) Human Rights Party, Kozachenko beat her lone Democratic opponent by 52 votes to little fanfare.
+ Lil Nas X is proud to represent the LGBTQ community.
+ We also honored her on Thursday, but y seriously â please take time to remember the life of Lorena Borjas, a beloved NYC trans activist.
Hey, guess what? I love you! Things are weird, but we’re figuring it out. Yesterday I packed and put on my backpack, walked to my mailbox and trash can, and then back into my house to my office and you know what? It was a fake commute, but it worked! We all have to figure out what works for us in this new reality, and it’s okay if you need to take more time than you usually require. You’ll figure it out, I know it! And you have friends and loved ones you can call when you feel stuck or sad or lonely! You have a community and you have love and you have coping skills. Stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask if you’re going to crowded places, don’t hoard PPE, and love your neighbors. See you soon.
Also.Also.Also: Rest in Infinite Power Trans Latina Activist Lorena Borjas. We Will Continue Your Work.
I love you.
Queer as in F*ck You
âWhen transgender women in Queens needed a safe place to be tested for HIV, Lorena Borjas turned her home into a clinic. When others were arrested and charged with prostitution, she bailed them out. When some faced deportation after an arrest, she created a nonprofit group to arrange for their legal representation.â
If you were arrested at 3AM, don’t worry be because Lorena would be at the courthouse by 8 â with a lawyer. Lorena Borjas, an absolute institution of New York’s trans and queer Latinx community, has died from Covid-19.Â
Borjas crossed the Mexico-U.S. border in 1981 and spent the rest of her life fighting hard for trans women, for sex workers, for queer and trans people of color. In 2018, she was pardoned by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for previous arrests stemming from her sex work, and in his pardon, the governor commended her unwavering commitment to queer and trans communities.
When she first heard of the news, Borjas told Voice of NY, âI thought that someone was pulling a prank on me, but I was overcome with joy when my attorney told me that it was all true, that I had been pardoned by the governor. I want to tell him that I will not betray his trust and that his pardon will change my life and that of other women. I am very grateful.â
âLorena saved so many lives from state violence, neglect, and abuse, and she fought tirelessly for trans migrants, people living with HIV, and sex workers,” the Transgender Law Center wrote in their memory of her. âShe should still be with us.â
Last month, in one of her final acts of service, Lorena Borjas started a trans aid fund for those experiencing loss of income, homelessness, or medical bills due to the Coronavirus. Please consider donating in her name and honor our community in her memory.
Que descanse en paz y poder, mi reina. đ
Saw This, Thought of You
Real talk, I’m never going to watch Tiger King, but for the rest of you: Tiger King’s Saff Still Wants the Best for the Animals
LeVar Burton Is Planning To Read To Us Again, Beginning This Friday
THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 4th, it begins right here on @twitter pic.twitter.com/pxWZ5lat5k
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 1, 2020
How to Optimize Your Home During Self-Quarantine
Sex Work Is Changing in the Pandemic. Hereâs How It Affects Workers.
Sure we talked about Zoom parties on Monday, but we all live at home now and the days are melding together like hot wax, so here we are again: How to Throw a Rave at the End of the World (Related: Using Zoom For Remote Work Or School? Hereâs How To Make The Most Of It)
âYou Donât Own Meâ: The Rebellious Freedom Cry At The Heart Of The First Wives Club, which is also a great time to pull up one of my favorite pieces, Remembering Lesley Gore, A Lesbian Icon by Sarah Fonseca for Buzzfeed News
They Will Stop at Nothing to Ban Abortion
Itâs Okay to Miss Your Old Life
Political Snacks
Three Truths and a Lie: A Version for Organizers. This title is misleading. Most organizers I know are working their ass off on the ground making sure the basic needs of their community are covered during a global crisis, and this roundup from The Nation is actually about the three remaining camps of the 2020 Democratic election (Bernie voters, hang on Warren voters, and Biden voters) â which is certainly not the same thing. HOWEVER! It’s still an excellent read if you have any space left in your brain to think about the fact that somehow, someway, there’s still an election going on and maybe we should think about how to come together around that.
And Also(Also.Also): Every Food and Delivery Strike Happening Now. Friends don’t let friends cross picket lines.
Also.Also.Also: #Dykes4Roman Said Gay Rights and Shallot Pasta
Let’s get right to it.
Queer as in F*ck You
A Queer Gaming Revolution Is Changing the Way We Play. The queer games avant-garde is a rising die of indie games being developed by, about, and often for LGBTQ people.
In Egypt, Transgender Activist Fights Battle on Many Fronts
Group Behind Central Park Coronavirus Tent Hospital Asks Volunteers To Support Anti-Gay Agenda (Important and somewhat related: 9 Strategies for Quarantining in a Non-LGBTQ+ Affirming Environment)
Idaho Governor Signs 2 Anti-Transgender Bills Into Law. One bill prohibits trans people from changing the sex on their birth certificates, and the other bans trans girls and women from competing in womenâs sports.
Fuck him! Bigots don’t get to win. And on that note, I’d like to offer the smallest counter to his hatred and violence by reminding us to amplify trans voices in this world:
đđđ€đđ 12 Young Adult Novels You Can Read Today, On Trans Day Of Visibility đđđ€đđ
Saw This, Thought of You
“When Jennifer Lopez posted a video of her family sheltering in the backyard of Alex Rodriguezâs vast Miami compound, the public snapped: ‘We all hate you,’ was one representative response.” LMAAAOO, Ok fine I love J.Lo, but still â Celebrity Culture Is Burning.
Just Give In to Alison Roman. Now is a great time to accept her culinary authority. (Or as Vanessa would say, #Dykes4Roman! I can confirm that I made her Creamy Cauliflower Pasta with Parmesan Bread Crumbs on Sunday. I found the pasta itself just fine, but the homemade breadcrumbs are to die for.)
To quote the singularly perfect Drew Gregory: “‘You all love tiger kings, but what about pussy queens?’ I love it.”
2020 was supposed to be a huge year for women directors helming studio films, and with so many of the top blockbusters postponed, it's hard not to feel discouraged. But to tide us all over, I made a list of some really good movies by women streaming rn: https://t.co/VDJwLJNTff
— Anne Cohen (@anneesthercohen) March 30, 2020
And speaking of things you could be streaming right now, have you started Little Fires Everywhere yet on Hulu? Riese and I are OBSESSED and it’s pretty much the only thing we’ve talked about for the last 72 hours! Celeste Ng Says âLittle Fires Everywhere” Is A Challenge To âWell-Intentioned” White Ladies
Natalie and Vanessa both read this and found it comforting đ They Survived the Spanish Flu, the Depression and the Holocaust: Two extraordinary women â one 101, the other 95 â lived through the worst of the 20th century. They have some advice for you.
Why Houseplants Make All the Difference in Self-Isolation. Ahem, from your pals at Autostraddle, just last year: 13 Easy Houseplants for Seasonally Depressed Gays and Their Cats
One Night at Zoomâs Hottest Club
5 Inspiring Women Artists Shattering Stereotypes of Muslims
You Wonât Find These Women in Textbooks. but in Their Families, They Made History. Today is the last day of Women’s History Month, go get ’em.
After generously covering for me last week, Natalie missed you, so she made you a little present…
đâœïž Saw This, Thought of You: Sportsball Edition âœïžđ
The Iso: Ashlyn Harris & Ali Krieger
Finally, a little good news: NCAA approves extra year for spring athletes
Texas A&Mâs Chennedy Carter declares for 2020 WNBA Draft: Carter’s early departure from Texas A&M isn’t a surprise but she joins a sizable group â early exits are standard in the men’s game, less so in the women’s â of early departures ahead of the 2020 WNBA season.
You hear a lot about the heartbreak of March Madness but rarely from this point of view. It’s gut-wrenching: Denied on the doorstep of the Final Four: Two shots she’ll never forget
I’m worried that this will hit women’s leagues across the globe: FA warns that top English women’s clubs could fold due to virus-related financial pressure
USA Rugby files for bankruptcy as coronavirus takes toll on game
Missing basketball? The WNBA is offering full access to its archive of last season’s games.
You get a #WNBAleaguepass, you get a #WNBAleaguepass, everybody gets a #WNBAleaguepass! Hit the link to enjoy full-length replays on us.
Link: https://t.co/JOky4gF8i3 pic.twitter.com/XsuP52lddV
— WNBA (@WNBA) March 30, 2020
I mean, based on what I know about life in Storrs, CT, this tracks: Sue Bird: ‘You canât drink with UConn players’
Political Snacks
I’m Asking Nicely: Freeze Rent Now. I’m NOT Asking Nicely: RENT FREEZE NOW!!!
Ohio Loses Prizm Magazine, the Stateâs Last LGBTQ+ Publication, in Wake of COVID-19
As the very necessary self-isolation and social distancing orders continue and we try to come together and flatten the curve of COVID-19, the unfortunate reality is that thousands of jobs and creative endeavours are disappearing every day. Alternative weekly papers all across America are closing up shop, considering the advertising revenue that keep these publications afloat have been obliterated. If there arenât any events happening to advertise, thereâs no ad money coming in to keep the lights on.
On March 23, Prizm Magazine, Ohioâs LGBTQ+ alt-monthly, announced that they too have been forced to shut down in the wake of COVID-19. Itâs a tragedy when any publication shuts down, but for the state of Ohio, Prizm Magazine was the lifeblood of the LGBTQ+ community in an area still lacking statewide LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections.
At the time of publication, there are bills sitting in the Ohio state house intending to prohibit gender-affirming care to transgender youth and outlawing transgender women to compete in high school athletics, and even after state representative Candice Keller claimed that mass shootings are a direct result of gay marriage becoming legalized, sheâs still holding public office.
I worked as a writer for Prizm Magazine under the guidance of editor Dr. Ken Schneck, and was fortunate to work during a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion was at the forefront of the magazineâs focus, even in a swing state. âI quickly learned how very deep the media bias runs that results in disproportionately featuring the voices of white gay men,” Dr. Schneck said in his editorâs farewell.
Prizm worked tirelessly to amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ people of color, both as subject features and as paid contributors. Finding gainful employment is hard enough when the world doesnât feel like itâs falling apart at the seams, and believing that my teammates are going to be able to find opportunities where theyâre afforded the chance to write about their lived experiences as LGBTQ+ POC is highly unlikely.
âWe can rely on mainstream media covering the shirtless torso of a chiseled cis white man on a Pride float in Columbus, but what doesn’t get covered is the church in Portsmouth, Ohio who just organized their first Pride or Cincinnati Black Pride that centers the voices of LGBTQ+ people of color,” Dr. Ken Schneck tells Autostraddle. âPrizm was dedicated to covering the legislation designed to restrict our rights but also the voices of the individuals whose rights are being assaulted.â
Unless other news outlets begin picking up these stories, Ohioâs LGBTQ+ coverage is going to be relegated to âThe Big Cs” (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati). To those that donât live in Ohio, it makes sense to focus on the three biggest cities in an otherwise âflyover state,” but these are giant blobs of blue in an otherwise blood-red state. The Big Cs are already safeguarded with relatively progressive leaning newspapers and media outlets, but Prizm filled the gaps for the rest of the state and amplified the LGBTQ+ folx fighting in areas with little to no support.
As a contributor from Cleveland, I am privileged to live in a city and county with LGBTQ+ protections, but driving less than fifteen minutes west drops me into another county where I am not protected in the slightest. Ohio’s hate crime law addresses violence based on race, color, religion or national origin, but not sexual orientation or gender identity. Thankfully, federal law does provide some protections within the state, but having any faith in the criminal justice system knowing the state as a whole doesnât classify LGBTQ+ people as equally deserving of protection doesnât really put our community at ease.
Most importantly, perhaps, is that Prizm was always free and accessible whether online or out in the wild. The magazine would sit right alongside the daily newspaper at music venues, coffee shops, and LGBTQ+ centers all across the state. Prizm normalized the existence and exposure of LGBTQ+ folx from all walks of life, smashing stereotypes and demolishing the preconceived notions straight people may have about what a queer person on the cover of a queer magazine should look like. The complaints about queer/gender non-conforming representation in the media are justified, and Prizm offered an equitable alternative that will be impossible to replace.
In my last piece for Prizm, I interviewed my seven-year-old niece and soon-to-be flower girl for my wedding (pending COVID-19 fuckery) later this fall. Knowing sheâll want to show everyone in her class the pictures of her in our wedding, her parents and I decided that it was the perfect time to explain to her that her future Aunt Harmony, her âAuntie Beejâs” very tall, blue-haired girlfriend, is transgender. As someone who also works as a K-8 educator in Ohio, my heart is broken thinking about the amount of parents who could have benefitted from reading this piece and finding ways to approach the subject matter of gender identity with their own families.
The topics Prizm covered were important, because they gave people insight into our community who may otherwise go uneducated, and it allowed LGBTQ+ folx to know that they werenât alone. My future wife and I canât go grocery shopping without someone making a comment about us, taking photos of us without our consent to send to their friends, or in extreme cases, threats of violence. The day to day for queer and gender non-conforming people in places like Ohio can be legitimately terrifying, and so many of us needed Prizm to help us feel seen and validated.
When I take my allotted walk outside through my neighborhood amidst the stateâs stay-at-home order, I canât help but peer into the windows of closed up businesses and darkened restaurants. Nestled in window nooks covered in local band stickers and worn adhesive, I can still see last monthâs edition of Prizm stacked next to now weeks old newspapers and flyers for shows that no longer exist like a little gay ghost of Christmas past here to remind me of how things used to be.
Adjusting to the new normal that is to come on the other side of this pandemic is mandatory, but trying to find a way to adjust to an Ohio without Prizm Magazine is something Iâm not quite prepared to do. I guess all I can do is exactly what our beloved editor suggested, âIâm going to sit around, sigh a bit, and just try to be appreciative for what Prizm provided; a medium to filter the light into our constituent spectral colors.â
Sunday Funday Is Staying Hydrated and Waiting To Kiss The Girl
Hey babes, how are you doing? How’s your new normal? I just restarted my isolation because I had to go to the grocery store and tbh I think I might need to go again???? Will I ever be free from my incredibly comfortable home again? Will I actually be forced to complete my spring cleaning???? Tune in next week to find out, because guess what? I’m not going anywhere!
Here’s some news:
+Â Portrait of a Lady on Fire which we have talked about extensively here (thank you, Drew) is now available to watch on Hulu! And they give you some prime social distancing fashion advice: Cover your face! Stay hydrated! Kiss a girl â okay, maybe wait a bit before doing that one.
+ We are all connecting virtually right now, including the LGBTQs at the Great Falls LGBTQ Center. If you’re feeling alone, see if any community organizations near you are doing virtual hangouts!
+ I find “I’m Still Here” from Follies to be the best ‘everything might be fucked but damnit I’m doing it!’ song ever, maybe you’ll also love it. Plus, Elaine Stritch in a newsboy cap and a red pantsuit??
+ “THERE is the queer collective united by a love of skating”
+ Here’s ANOTHER queer movie watching guide, this time specific to music movies. If you want some AS-specific movie recs, check out Riese’s suggestions.
+Â Vagrant Queen is a new sci-fi show that’s diverse and queer and I bet you’ll love it.
+ Dua Lipa said, “here you go gays, let me help you.” And released a new music video.
+ In Nashville, gardening is providing a big boost to health, especially now.
+ Autostraddle’s week of sheltering-in-place-together may be over after today (catch Keah Brown later today and Rachel C-L giving skincare advice!), but you can watch highlights on our Instagram!
Stay safe, friends. Check in on folks you feel comfortable checking in on. Call your therapist, if you haven’t. Take naps during the day while cuddling with your pets. Drink lots of water. Take socially-distant walks. Call your friends and vibe out together on the phone like it’s 2003 and even though you only have unlimited minutes after 7, you’re willing to waste all of them. You should always be loving each other, but work a little harder to show the love in these times. I’m here for you if you need me, and I love you so much! We’re doing this! We’re supporting each other and getting through this, and we are gonna change the world.
Love you, mean it. â€ïžđâšđđ«
Also.Also.Also.: Skateboarding Is Queer Culture
feature image from Valentina de Zanche/Slam Jam
Welcome back, Straddlers! I hope that you’re finding a way to give yourselves a little joy in these uncertain times. Hopefully, there’s a little brightness for you among this collection of links.
Queer as in F*ck You
Did you see One Day at a Time‘s series debut on Pop? They talked about the importance of the decennial Census! You really should fill it out! Here’s more about the 2020 census: What LGBTQ Americans should know
The fascinating history of London’s first LGBT pub visited by royalty
One of my biggest concerns about this self-isolation has been folks trapped with abusive partners or parents: Coronavirus: ‘I’m stuck in isolation with my homophobic parents’
THERE is the queer collective united by a love of skating
As if LGBTQ media’s struggle with survival wasn’t hard enough: Ohio LGBTQ publication Prizm News shuts down after coronavirus-related revenue crunch
This LGBTQ clothing brand has the most unapologetic T-shirts (Maybe? But also…have you visited the Autostraddle store?)
Saw This, Thought of You
BuzzFeed Slashing Employee Pay Amid the Coronavirus Crisis
‘More volatile than ever’: Freelancers brace for a rough job market
Learning to Swim Taught Me More Than I Bargained for
Saw This, Thought of You: Sportsball Edition
Women’s Basketball Was Building Momentum. Then All The Games Stopped.
How the coronavirus has affected WNBA players overseas
U.S. Soccer leadership: Equal pay a ‘priority’
Will we see Carli Lloyd or Becky Sauerbrunn back in a Team USA jersey? Or should we? The implications of a delayed Olympics for the USWNT
An upside to the Olympic delay: Katie Ledecky has time to get better – Katie Ledecky resets Olympic focus on 2021 after frustrating, uncertain wait
Political Snacks
Please do not take medical advice from a man who looked directly at a solar eclipse.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2020
I suspect we’ll have more to say about this in tomorrow’s Extra!Extra!: The Senate just passed a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package. Here’s what’s in it.
Waffle House closes 420 locations amid coronavirus pandemic
Why should you be concerned about Waffle House closings? FEMA uses it as an indicator of how bad as disaster is. Suffice to say, according to the Waffle House Index, we are fucked.
âHe is still in’: Bernie could remain in race through June (Relatedly: Biden says Democrats have ‘had enough debates’)
Not surprised by either of these decisions but I’m not sure either are the right decision. Short of winning 65% in all the remaining primaries, Sanders isn’t going to capture the nomination and, given that the president is getting daily coverage of his pressers (no matter how often he lies), giving up a national audience doesn’t seem smart for Biden either.
Also.Also.Also: Digital Drag, Socially Distant Lesbian Weddings and Wow We’re All Homeschooling Now
feature image from Jinkx Monsoon’s “Just Me (The Gender Binary Blues)”
I’m pinch-hitting for Carmen this week as she gets a much-deserved respite. I hope that you’re finding a way to give yourself a break too… watching some new TV (the new season of One Day at a Time premieres tonight!) or reading a new book.
Or, you could just check out all these links!
Queer as in F*ck You
Amid coronavirus, West Hollywood’s LGBTQ community hears echoes of the AIDS crisis
I understand the impulse to draw a connection between those two moments â both driven by government incompetence and indifference â but that parallel is fraught and highly revisionist. AIDS Activist Mark S. King penned a compelling response: Stop Comparing Coronavirus to Early HIV/AIDS. Just Stop.
The Rightâs New Target: LGBTQ Children
How Drag Queens Are Going Digital in the Wake of Coronavirus
Rapper Chika is here to take over hip-hop. Her strength? Vulnerability (ICYMI: Abeni’s review of Chika’s debut EP, Industry Games)
More Chika, from NPR’s famed Tiny Desk:
Saw This, Thought of You
Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety
An Oral History of a Socially Distanced Wedding
Could Hip-Hopâs Next Global Superstar Emerge From India?
Coronavirus: Germany plans âŹ40 billion ‘rescue package’ for freelancers and small businesses
Oh, did you think you’d get an Also.Also.Also from me without sports links?
This explains why Liz Cambage’s WNBA contract hasn’t been finalized: Las Vegas Aces star Liz Cambage believes she had COVID-19 while playing in China
The Coronavirus Outbreak Is A Disaster For Women’s Sports
From the newly minted AP Coach of the Year: Dawn Staley and the sting of losing a championship season
A wild proposal for salvaging the NWSL season
Saw This, Thought of You: Homeschool Edition
Coronavirus has forced me â and, I suspect, some of you â to become homeschool teachers… and, lemme tell you, it has been tough. I am not sure how the Kentucky legislature can possibly be considering raiding teachers’ pensions when, after just a week of trying to do their job, I want to give teachers whatever they want.
At any rate, I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some resources that I’ve found useful. If you’ve found good resources, please share them in the comments.
How ‘regular school’ parents can homeschool their kids
Resources for Parents during the Coronavirus Outbreak
Resources for Learning at Home When Schools Close
Political Snacks
Biden has talked with Obama about possible vice presidential pick – NBC News reports that seven women are under consideration for Biden’s VP slot. Any predictions?
Joe Biden names Reggie Greer director of the campaignâs LGBTQ vote effort
Colorado Abolishes the Death Penalty and Ends Prison Gerrymandering
Bloomberg sued by aides for stiffing them on yearlong pay promise
Sunday Funday Has Gay Shit to Watch While You Cook From Home
Hello friends. Oi vey. You’re doing so great, I can tell.
Good Shit to Watch
We are stuck inside for the foreseeable future, and you’ve given up on giving up TV for Lent because of *gestures wildly at all of this*, so here’s some stuff for you to watch.
+ After Misdirection maybe you want some more short films to binge? Try these eight short queer films.
+ Variety has 16 queer films they think you might like.
+ Have a visual look at the colors and fashions of the suffrage movement. Remember it’s Women’s History Month???
+ Space gays, there’s a Star Trek: DS9 documentary available for free viewing.
+ Feel Good is another show you might want to watch â Drew wrote all about it for you!
+ Carla and Trixie make dessert.
Feel Good Shit
+ Bad Bunny has gifted the entire world a month of Spotify Premium.
+ Antoni got a puppy to foster during the Crisis đ
+ African photographers explore identity
+ Lizzo’s IG meditations
+ Ezra Miller said, “sorry straights, we’re better”
+ “Lessons from My Grandma on Art, Sex and Life”
Mexico transformed my grandmother â or rather, it allowed her to become most fully herself. âShe swung into the dining room with a mambo rhythm,” AnaĂŻs Nin, my grandmotherâs longtime friend, recalled in her published diaries of their first encounter at Acapulcoâs Hotel Mirador in the winter of 1948. âWhen I met her she had become so international, so well-traveled, so multilingual, so at ease with all kinds of people, that no one could imagine her childhood, her origin.â
+ Make some asparagus, it’s good for you.
+ Snails be fucking
https://twitter.com/gaileyfrey/status/1241503923589902336
Good Shit To Look Forward To
+ If you read and loved T Kira Madden’s Long Live The Tribe of Fatherless Girls (and Vanessa’s review of it) then you can look forward to a film adaptation coming soon-ish.
+Â Nia and Ness, who I find to be an adorable, powerful couple and even more powerful performers, will be part of the Staying Connected Virtual Festival
Dance Break
Oh my sweet friends. What a fucking world we are living in. It’s okay if you’re afraid â I’m scared all the time, every day. Fear is a totally normal and natural reaction to all the uncertainty we’re facing. I wish I could say more things, I wish I could give you more comfort, I wish I could tell you everything is going to be okay. This is changing everything. Nothing will be the same after this and that is scary. Uncertainty is not my fucking cup o’ tea, but it is where we are right now, and we shouldn’t push away from it.
Once, like four years ago, I checked myself into a day program at a behavioral health hospital because it felt like my world was ending and I was terrified of what I’d do if I kept spending my days alone. It was a time of uncertainty and was the first time I remember looking into my future and seeing nothing â just wide open, empty space â and it scared the fuck out of me. On my last day, the group counselor gave me a little note that I still have in a keepsake box next to my bed. It says, “Alaina, just when the caterpillar thought life was over she became a butterfly.” Just because it’s dark does not mean it’s the end; in fact, this feels so much more like a new beginning than an end.
In the midst of everything, something new is being birthed. Flowers are still blooming, trees are still growing, baby brothers are still proposing to their girlfriends, babies are being born. We will be different, but “listen I love you joy is coming.”
Love you [so much], mean it.
Also.Also.Also: Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato Are Gay as Hell, Friends Again. Disney Kids Rejoice!
This is going to be a wild ride â all week I’ve gone back and forth between binge watching old episodes of Glee and pretending the world doesn’t exist and burrowing deep into COVID-19 news until I have a panic attack, wash/rinse/repeat â which isn’t great when one of your jobs is to do a news roundup of all the OTHER stuff that’s happening the world! HA!
Whew. Let’s see what shakes out.
Queer as in F*ck You
Gabby Rivera Promises a âGayer, Chubbier, and More Confidentâ Heroine in Her New Graphic Novel
Google Has Opened an Interactive Frida Kahlo Exhibition
New Report Suggests 23 Percent Of Young Black Women Identify As Bisexual. Is it a coincidence that this is also a generation of black women raised on Rihanna music videos? I think not. LET’S GO HOMOÂ TEAM! LET’S GO!
Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Alicia Garza on Voting Rights, Race and Power Dynamics in America â A Playboy Interview
Do good work in your community, and maybe if you’re lucky you’ll get a public shot out from Barack Obama. Hey, it worked for Roxane Gay??
Quarantine Pro Tip: Get Yourself A Lesbian. Ahem.
Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato laughing together in 2020 just make believe in friendship again. â„ïž pic.twitter.com/5H4RSelxhp
— booooo (@milkshakee96) March 17, 2020
Hi! â I’m Hannah Montana, and that’s Sonny with a Chance, maybe you’ve heard, We’re Gay as F*ck, and you’re watching The Disney Channel!
Saw This, Thought of You
N. K. Jemisin on Race, Gentrification and the Power of Fiction
Rachel promises, “this is good in general but also a few nuggets for people who, like me, have been on the Fiona Apple’s Lowkey Queerness beat for years.” Fiona Appleâs Art of Radical Sensitivity (Also.Also.Also. here are 6 Culturally Queer Facts About Fiona Apple, No Reason đ)
“‘Social distancing; is turning to ‘remote leaning’ on my social circle. Itâs been vital.” Getting By With a Little Help From My Friends
Tedious Cooking Is the Best Distraction. True, truuue.
11 Podcasts You Should Listen to While Youâre Social Distancing
“When the university told my wife about the sexual-harassment complaints against her, we knew they werenât true. We had no idea how strange the truth really was.” The Accusations Were Lies. But Could We Prove It?
JSTOR Makes Database Accessible to the Public. Nerds!
Political Snacks
I Love You. See you next week.
Sunday Funday Is Burning Down the Patriarchy With These Hot Firefighters
Feature image via reddit.
Hello! Are you panicking? It’s a very real reaction, and I’m here to offer you love and comfort and joy as you deal with this trying time in our global experience.
To start off our moments of joy, here’s a cute picture of my cat, Alexei, standing by flowers that he did not eat! Such a good boy!
Okay, the news!
+ A New Wave of Filmmakers Is Quietly Championing Reproductive Rights Onscreen
+ Who inspired RBG? Who has she inspired?
+ The women of Pakistan said, “WOMEN’S RIGHTS!!!!”
+ Queer Eye has made its way to Texas! Yee haw y’all!
+ Here are 7 iconic queer kisses to watch on screen while you’re being socially distant
+ Georden West’s installation “Queer Body in Ecstasy” claims space
+ Wastewomxn, described as “queer unbinary aliens” have a new video for you.
+ Yes, Carmen mentioned this on Thursday, but seriously itâs time to talk about wolf girls.
+ The first ever Native-owned film studio opened in New Mexico.
+ Listen, maybe you want to look at some pictures of Meryl Streep? I don’t know; we live in trying times.
+ “Thought y’all would appreciate”
Okay homos and homies, remember to practice your deep breaths. Also, if you, like me, panic every time you cough, remember this helpful poem, “cough wet, pussy wet, corona ain’t got me yet.” It’s gonna be okay. Check in on your neighbors, your friends who live alone, your poor homies, and your elderly friends and (chosen) family. Make some art, watch some TV, let people know you love them, and tell them you need to be told the same thing. “We’re all in this together,” like the hit Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical reminds us. I love you!! Take care of each other! â€ïžâ€ïžâ€ïž
Also.Also.Also: The USWNT Really Said “F*ck You. Pay Me.”
Well, I had insomnia on Wednesday night and let me tell you what â it was awful!
I hope you’re Thursday is better rested than what mine will surely be. And also that you eat a cookie or that the cute person you’ve been crushing on does something extra cute on social media today. Or, why not both!
Queer as in F*ck You
D E M O C R A C Y! 9% of Democratic Primary Voters so Far Are LGBT.
And I can’t believe I even have to say this, buuuut…Â Dear White Lesbians: You Are Not Studs
When a Haircut Is More Than Just a Haircut: Black L.G.B.T. New Yorkers are using social media to find barbershops that double as safe spaces.
New York State Will Allow Transgender Minors to Amend Their Birth Certificates
Grassroots Groups Help LGBTQ People Survive â and Thrive â in Appalachia
Chelsea Manning has been hospitalized after a suicide attempt on Wednesday. Sending real love.
Canada Introduces Bill To Ban âGay Conversionâ Therapy Nationwide. If the legislation passes, Canada would become the fourth country in the world to make the medically denounced practice illegal.
Saw This, Thought of You
Itâs Time to Talk About Wolf Girls. (This essay is actually from last July, but listen OK, everyone around the Autostraddle beltway can’t seem to stop talking about their damn wolves lately! Wolf Girls â the Horse Girls of queer culture.)
This beautiful goofball Malamute-mix rescue belongs to our A+ Membership Director, Nicole.
WNBA star Maya Moore sat out two seasons to help prove innocence of man behind bars. Now, his conviction has been officially been overturned.
Dolly Parton Wants to Celebrate Her 75th Birthday by Posing for Playboy
Why Americans Canât Quit Girl Scout Cookies
In Celebration Of Being The Third Wheel
On Tuesday we talked about US Soccer Federation filing court documents in the USWNT’s ongoing equal pay trial that contained the sexist logic, âthe job of a [menâs national team player] carries more responsibility within US Soccer than the job of a [womenâs national team] player.”  After four World Cup titles â compared to the men’s whomping ZERO â I was pretty fucking pissed. It turns out the USWNT were pissed too, last night they took the field with their warm up jerseys turned inside out so that the US Soccer crest was hidden… but not those well-earned four stars.đ
And if you’re looking to show some solidarity, in a BOSS move, today the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association started selling the inside-out jerseys as T-shirts for fans.
OK. I’ve been putting this off long enough, let’s talk Coronavirus: The World Health Organization has officially declared the virus a worldwide pandemic, there’s a new Trump travel ban that of course doesn’t make sense, the NBA is suspending their season (this will be the first time I can’t watch the NBA finals in June and I already don’t know what to do with myself), and Tom Hanks tested positive for the virus. Here’s some other smart things that I’d like you to think about:
- “What you do now shouldnât just be about mitigating your personal risk, but everyone elseâs. How would you alter your behavior if someone you loved or lived with was at high risk of becoming seriously sick or dying? What if you behaved that way, even if you donât love or live with someone in that position?” â Yes, You Actually Can Do Something About The Coronavirus by Anne Helen Peterson for Buzzfeed News
- Keep it Simple! WASH YOUR HANDS! Cut Out the Racism! Why Pandemics Activate Xenophobia
Political Snacks
As much as elected officials and the 2020 presidential candidates talk about people behind bars, little is actually known about what incarcerated people think about politics. Most people in prison cannot vote, and pollsters donât seek their opinions during election season.
So, how would we do it? Prisons are like black boxes where little information gets in and even less gets out. Surveying incarcerated people about their political views proved to be a logistical puzzle. Typical political polling organizations have the demographic data they need to make sure that theyâre reaching a representative sample of people. And they can reach their prospects at home or on their cellphones. This isnât the case for prisons… However, [they] tend to be less restrictive about snail mail and information on prison-based digital tablets.
From Slate, How We Pulled Off a Political Survey of Incarcerated America.
Also.Also.Also: Demi Lovato Wants to Make Out With Rihanna â Stars, They’re Just Like Us!
I’m gonna keep it real with you: This is going to be a little quick and dirty for a link roundup. But hey, not all is lost, I VOTED TODAY!
The state of Michigan said đŁ SUFFRAGETTES BITCH
Queer as in F*ck You
Queer the wilderness! A Rare Bald Eagle Throuple Have Come Together to Mate and Parent.
To be read with each other: Hundreds Of Staff At The Guardian Have Signed A Letter To The Editor Criticising Its “Transphobic Content” and Transphobia Is Everywhere in Britain by Juliet Jacques for the NYT.
Demi Lovato Says She Just Wants To âMake Outâ With Rihanna.
Yeah well… get in line, buddy.
Saw This, Thought of You
US Soccer Doesnât Want To Give The Womenâs Team Equal Pay Because The Men Have âMore Responsibilityâ to which I say:
 Trailblazing NBA Women Coaches who would like to marry me. (Just kidding, that’s not the headline… or is it??)
Another reading double feature, from me to you â Looking at Reggaeton’s Unsung Black History and Women in Dancehall Turn Up for Pleasure Parity
We talked a little about this last week, and here’s an update: Woody Allen Memoir Dropped by Hachette After Staff Walk-Out
85 Ways to Make Sex Workers’ Lives Easier
This week celebrates the 30th anniversary of the black teen movie CLASSIC House Party. What a great time to remind you that last year, for Autostraddle, Lex reimagined the romp into a lesbian rom-com starring Zazie Beetz, Teyanna Taylor, Black Lightning’s Nafessa Williams, and Claws’ Karrueche Tran!
Who Are These Maximalist Cheese Boards Really For?
Political Snacks
Stacey Abrams Is Building a New Kind of Political Machine in the Deep South
Sunday Funday Is Already Getting Ready for Pride with Janelle MonĂĄe
Hello! We lost an hour last night and I forgot to change all of my non-automatic clocks and I woke up an hour late! Happy Spring, I guess!
+Â Janelle MonĂĄe’s alien ass will be headling Pride Island 2020 in NYC.Â
+ The elections feel like they’re tearing us apart all over again (I texted someone, “I’m having 2016 flashbacks”) but we showed up and showed out to vote on Super Tuesday! Let’s keep it up!
+Â Difficult Women by Helen Lewis tells feminist history through fights!
+ Speaking of fights, as the election approaches, many feminists are arming themselves with art!
+Â Hillary, a new Hulu documentary about Hillary Clinton… exists! You can watch it right now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIli4bF-Zjk
+ ABO Comix has published an anthology of comics from queer incarcerated folks.
+ Speaking of comics, here are five queer comics that stuck with Lee Mandelo throughout the years.
+ These lesbians were married after 72 years together!!! đđ
+ Arizona’s growing space for two-spirit indigenous people.
+ Yes, you already saw it, I’m sure, but come on, watch it again: new music (video) from the Dixie Chicks!?
Listen, even though time is fake and stole one of our precious hours, and I’ve had hiccups every morning for the past week, doesn’t mean we can’t make this next week our best one yet!
So hold your breath, count to 10, throw some water on your tired face, and let’s get out there! I believe in you! If I can stop hiccuping after 30 minutes, you can do the thing that’s been causing you anxiety all year, I just know it. I love you, we’re gonna make it, and one day we will prove once and for all that whatever that thing is we do to the clocks in the Spring should be STOPPED for the good of all humanity! Just think how great we’ll feel with that accomplishment under our belts.
Also.Also.Also: Janelle MonĂĄe and Kiersey Clemons Star in New Movie “Antebellum,” Black Femmes Plot Worldwide Takeover
My plans for the rest of this evening include a package of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies and a blanket. Live the wildest life you can imagine.
Queer as in F*ck You
Setting the Table for Queer Futures: Potlucks as a Site of Queer Community-Building and Resistance
âThis space was created for the Two-Spirit, for them to feel comfortable, for them to have a safe space they could go to and dance powwow and be comfortable in their traditional regalia regardless of gender.” Arizona’s Growing Powwow, ‘Safe Space’ for Two-Spirit via Indian Country today.
How a Dating App Helped a Generation of Chinese Come Out of the Closet
Pride Media Announces New Leadership for The Advocate and Out Magazines
The use of hashtags to discuss and center Black trans women victims of violence has become intertwined with Black feminist initiatives such as #SayHerName. A hashtag alone did not result in these developments, but as part of a larger cultural shift that centers sex, gender, and civil rights and that has been led primarily by trans women of color, the hashtag #GirlsLikeUs has played an indispensable role in constructing an intersectional digital trans community.
Bitch Media has an excerpt from the new full-length academic study #HashtagActivism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice by black queer activist-scholar Moya Bailey, along with Sarah J. Jackson, and Brooke Foucault Welles. The excerpt focuses on Janet Mock’s #GirlsLikeUs and the power of trans feminist advocacy and community building online. (If you’re interested, you can also buy #HastagActivism on sale now.)
I still don’t quite understand how Janelle MonĂĄe’s new movie with Kiersey Clemons, about a black woman who goes back in time to slavery, isn’t actually just a queer adaption of Octavia Butler’s Kindred, but somehow it’s not?
Whatever. I’ll be there opening night.
Also(also.also), In Praise Of Janelle Monae And Her Clothes At Paris Fashion Week
Saw This, Thought of You
As I promised you on Tuesday, here is your first new Dixie Chicks single (and it’s catchy as fuck):
HA! It’s almost like I planned it to go this way! Smells Like Teen Spirit: Why Certain Music Carries Us Back to High School
Will the Millennial Aesthetic Ever End? As a forever lover of “millennial pink” I feel sufficiently called out.
What Happened to D.I.Y. Collages?
Abortion Rights Had a Surprisingly Hopeful Day in the Supreme Court (this pairs with:Â If Weâre Going to Protect Abortion Access, Language Matters)
Months After Puerto Rico Earthquakes, Thousands Are Still Living Outside. While you’re thinking about colonization and revolution in Puerto Rico, it’s great time to read more about Denise Oliver, a former leader of the Puerto Rican Young Lords Party and all around badass mujer â âMachismo Will Never Be Fucking Revolutionaryâ: On The Radical Rebelliousness of Denise Oliver-Velez from Black Women Radicals
How the US Census Misses People of Color â and Why It’s so Harmful
Employees at the Little, Brown imprint of Hachette Book Group have staged a walk-out in protest of the companyâs acquisition of Woody Allen’s forthcoming memoir.
They Killed Their Husbands. Now in Prison, They Feel Free. #NoRegrets
The Best Books for Budding Black Feminists. In Audre Lorde’s name we pray, Amen.
Political Snacks
Thank You to the Women of the 2020 Presidential Election.
BIG PRESIDENTIAL ENERGY pic.twitter.com/GdTft7aXhe
— Meena Harris (@meena) July 1, 2019
Dream Big. Fight Hard.
Also.Also.Also: After 14 Years the Dixie Chicks Are Back, Update Your Misandrist Playlists!
Welcome to Also.Also.Also, a twice-a-week link roundup, now found at a NEW bat time (Tuesdays & Thursdays) on the same bat channel (Autostraddle.com).
Queer as in F*ck You
How Racism, Meth and Sex Are Combining to Destroy Young Queer Black Lives
And here’s some more Black Owned Queer Fashion & Accessory Brands!
Miss Staten Island Banned From St. Patrickâs Day Parade After Revealing Bisexuality. âI wanted it to be clear that Iâm part of this community,” 23-year-old Madison LâInsalata said of why she decided to publicly come out.
South Carolina Sued Over Its Ban on LGBTQ Sex Ed Discussions
While The Country Preps for Primaries and Pandemic, States Take Up Votes On Trans Lives by Chase Strangio (Also â Serious Health Care Lapses Continue To Be Found in Detention Center Housing Trans Migrants)
Saw This, Thought of You
Pink Pussy Hats, Pantsuits, and Beyond: A History of the Symbols of White Feminism. Among the different symbols of “white feminism” common themes of selfishness, co-option, and faux allyship emerge. (Much respect to the author of this piece â I agree with most of it â but you can pry a hot woman in a pantsuit from cold, dead hands)
The Gig Economy Has Never Been Tested by a Pandemic
How the Women of Standing Rock Are Building Sovereign Economies
Abortion Case in Colombia Could Be a Landmark in Latin America. A ruling in the case could have repercussions across the region.
China Has Censored Archive of Our Own, One of the Internetâs Largest Fanfiction Websites
The Joy of Fran Drescher. Damn, I even read the title of that article in Fran’s The Nanny voice.
Dunkin’s Donuts Latest Release Is Quite Simply a Bag of Bacon. Fast food chains nationwide are rushing to launch “meatless” and “plant-based” options. But not good ole Dunkin’.
Joe Coulombe, Founder of Popular Trader Joeâs Markets, Has Died. This spoonful of cookie butter raised in the air is for you, sir!
Lady Gaga Topples the Patriarchy in Favor of ‘Stupid Love’ in New Video
đ DIXIE CHICKS NEW ALBUM ALERT! đ
The first single drops tomorrow!
Political Snacks
If you live in â deep breath! â Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, American Samoa, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Colorado, Minnesota, Vermont, Texas, Utah, or California, get ready to do some democracy, babbyyyyy!!
Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race in the last 48 hours and, along with Beto OâRourke, publicly endorsed Joe Biden at a Texas rally on Super Tuesday Eve. It’s a jungle out there! Here’s some election-adjacent news to read while you’re in line for the polls:
đ«Â How the Political Merchandising Industry Has Shaped the Primary. Feel the Bern stickers, coffee mugs full of Billionaire’s Tears, and Math Hats â Oh My!
đ«Â Black women voters are the backbone of the Democratic Party. With that in mind, Melissa Harris-Perry spoke with three high-ranking black women surrogates for the Joe Biden (Symone Sanders), Bernie Sanders (Nina Turner), and Elizabeth Warren (Ayanna Pressley) campaigns. Here’s what each had to say about their candidate in a one-of-its-kind comparison that you should definitely read today.
đ« Speaking of which, here’s what Autostraddle writers and editors are thinking about (and who we’re maybe supporting) heading into the polls.
đ« And finally: “Any chance you could grab us a bottle of wine or something?” â Katie Hill, After the Scandal.
Sunday Funday’s Reflection Shows Who We Are Inside
Happy March! We made it through the first two months of the year, only ten more! Time, she sure is a cruel mistress! Just always there, going forward, not stopping, but also completely fake!
I just saw a staged reading of a play by a friend all about time, which I have decided is my truest nemesis, and now I can’t stop thinking about it! And it won’t slow down enough for me to think about it! Not to be dramatic, but I absolutely did not consent to living like this? But here the heck I am, and it’s Sunday, and we’ve had a week of good news, so here it is.
+ To end Black History Month, Teen Vogue got an exclusive Danez Smith poem. (We also included Danez in our Black History Month roundup, Eight Black LGBTQ Poets to Give Your Flowers To Right Now by Dani Janae)
+ Still thinking about that sprinting javelina? Me too. I hope she’s well.
+ These Thems is a new comedy series about non-binary folks you might want to watch!
âIt was important to me to create These Thems because I wanted to bring awareness of our community through the element of comedy. Laughter is universal and it is the best tool we have to educate. By highlighting identities that haven’t been given much attention in the media, specifically about nonbinary, trans-masculine, and queer femme experiences, we are able to showcase relatable characters that truly anyone can learn from and empathize with. Representation is so important and the goal of These Thems is to give queer audiences a show made for and by our community while simultaneously offering a loving lens into the LGBTQIA+ world for cis/het audiences who want to become better allies. We provide accurate representation, dynamic storylines, and a whole lot of laughter and heart.â
+ New Zealand based trans athlete, Laurel Hubbard continues her bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics
+ Let’s talk about the ga(y)ze, which is something Autostraddle’s already been all over.
+ Fran Dresser‘s got a lesbian kid she’s in love with and loves gossip on her new show Indebted.
+ Girls and gays, hold on to your literal and figurative hats, we are getting a NEW version of “Reflection” for the rebooted live-action version of Disney’s Mulan. Get ready to cry about not being the perfect daughter all over again!!!
+ Sheer Qorma is a film that might be up your alley.
+ If you love the Bajorans, you might be gay?
+ How BET’s Black History Month coverage in 2020 was queer as hell
+ What does this mean?!
https://twitter.com/vagabonvagabon/status/1233844605860237317
+ 12 queer instagram accounts about books for you and your reading friends to follow.
+ Sydney’s Pride Parade looks lit
Okay friends, see you next week. I’m gonna go stand in just my robe in the same spot for 45 minutes thinking about how I should start something but starting nothing, and then probably take a bunch of the exact same pictures of my cats. This is healing! This is life! Making and breaking promises with yourself, wearing robes, drinking hot beverages, finding joy in cats snoring sounds! We gotta keep living. More life, as Tony Kushner would say! More, more, more. Never less. Love you, do something more this week. You got this.
Also.Also.Also: Your Therapist Can Do a Little Porn on the Side, as a Treat
We are so close to the weekend, I can almost taste it.
Queer as in F*ck You
Alexa NegrĂłn Luciano, Rest in Power. Killing of Transgender Homeless Woman Sparks Outrage in Puerto Rico
I’m E N R A G E D! ICE Is Torturing LGBTQ Immigrants by Putting Them in Solitary
Photo via Ahya Simone on Instagram, courtesy of Kai Dowridge
Trans Sistas of Color Project Detroitâs Co-founder Ahya Simone on Art and Identity. Founded in 2015, the Trans Sistas of Color Project  helps local trans women of color gain access to hormones, assists them with making name and gender marker changes on passports and drivers licenses, as well as provides financial assistance. They’ve also become an important artistic support system celebrating trans women of color’s joy.
Non-Binary People Could Get a Gender-Neutral Passport Under New Legislation
Catherine Opie on Why Her Work Is About More Than Just Her Queer Identity
Malic wants to know if anyone else is hate-watching Love Is Blind? Maybe y’all can start a support group. Netflix’s Love Is Blind Makes One Wonder, Are Straight People Doing Ok?
First Openly Bisexual Congresswoman Katie Hill, Who Quit Congress Amid Ethics Inquiry, Will Publish Her Memoir (Here’s your Autostraddle refresher: What Katie Hillâs Resignation Means for Young Queer People in Political Life)
What the Bloop Happened to Queer Media? Which to be honest is mostly about cis men’s gay media, but the author didn’t want to say that out loud. Anyway, it includes a quickie interview with Autostraddle EIC Riese Bernard, so that’s something. And it’s a great reminder that if you want your queer media to survive the very real graveyard, becoming an A+ member is just a click away.
“For the first time I felt like I had so many more choices in my life than I originally thought I had. That was my first realization that I did not just have to react to the world, that I could be intentional in the world, and just curious about what came back to me.” One of my favorite writers, Ashley Ford, on this week’s Longform podcast.
Saw This, Thought of You
“The general idea seems to be that humans are so busy pursuing complicated forms of self-actualization that weâd like much of our life to be assembled for us, as if from a kit.” The Age of Instagram Face (This actually came out in December, but I saw it re-circled three times this week alone, so I’m thinking something is there?)
What Coronavirus Teaches Us About Climate Change
House Passes Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, Making Lynching a Federal Crime, and for further reading, A Black Lawmakerâs Anti-Lynching Bill Failed 120 Years Ago. Now, the House Finally Acted. Speaking of which â RIP Trayvon Martin. Murdered eight years ago this week. Sending a lot of peace to his family, and particularly his mother Sybrina Fulton. You are never far from our minds or hearts.
What It’s Like to Be a Midwife or Doula Fighting Black Maternal Mortality
Smithsonian Celebrates Native Women Artists With âFirst Majorâ Exhibition
Up to 91% More Expensive: How Delivery Apps Eat Up Your Budget. We can’t have nice things.
How to Write a Perfect Resignation Letter. Perhaps related: The Difference Between Worry, Stress and Anxiety
Do You Remember Livejournal? It Was an Essential Part of My Teenage Identity. (This cartoon is 100% nostalgia and damnit I love it)
âI find that being able to make decisions for my body, being able to see myself as a full sexual being, and being able to take control of that narrative around my body is empowering… My sex is not what somebody else is choosing for me. It does defy a lot of the messaging around what women should be doing [but] when you can take control of something that has at one point in time had a control on you, then you are in a better space for it. And that is empowering.â
âI Can Be a Therapist and⊠Do Pornâ đ
Political Snacks
https://twitter.com/hshaban/status/1232530701595095041
‘You Believe Heâs Lying?’ The Latest Debate Captured Americansâ Exhausting Tendency to Mistrust Women by Rebecca Traister for The Cut
And I really try not to focus on the same candidate twice in the “Political Snacks” section, for the sake of balance, but this is going to be one of the funniest things you see today. It’s what you deserve. đ đ đ
When I tell you this sent me FLAT on the floor pic.twitter.com/lGzLpd75fS
— mvn (@mvn_dn) February 27, 2020