Hi there friends! Today is Election Day and I already burned the first thing I cooked. (don’t worry, there’s more things coming!! I definitely cook a lot when I’m stressed!)
Today’s news roundup is going to be a little different than most. Usually we have three sections to categorize links: “Queer as in F*ck You” for all our gay news; “Saw This, Thought of You” for the reading I did that was otherwise of our interests; and “Political Snacks” — which feels self-explanatory.
WELL! Since today the news is pretty much all politics and nothing else, we’re going to keep the “Political Snacks” and move them right to the top, followed by a bunch of news that I’m calling “election distractions” — just silly things to help keep us grounded throughout the day — in “Saw This, Thought of You.”
Don’t worry, no matter what happens today, I promise that we will be angry queers again on Thursday, and as such “Queer as in F*ck You” will be back in its regularly scheduled spot.
OK! Long talk! Here’s some links you can read!
Political Snacks
First up, this is a little bit of a cheat, in that it is technically political news, but it’s also just some fluffy ass celebrity news and fuck it! We sure can use that today!! Noted maybe once-upon-a-time girlfriends Janelle Monáe and Tessa Thompson reunited on Instagram Live this past Friday for the first time publicly since their maybe break up, and all in the name of… drumroll please!!.. D E M O C R A C Y
So first, my forever favorite queer couple talked about all the wild ass Truth-Or-Dare games that they used to play when they were *cough *cough dating best friends, including one craaaazy night when apparently they worried Tessa wouldn’t make it back to set! LOL. These kids.
But then Tessa got a little (I assume previously staged) glimmer in her eye, and she challenged her rockstar ex to duel: If One Hundred Million People voted early in this election… they would play Truth-Or-Dare on Live! FOR DEMOCRACY!
Tessa Thompson and Janelle Monáe saying they’ll play truth or dare on live if there are 100 million early votes is a more compelling reason to vote than anything I’ve heard from the Biden campaign.
— Drew Gregory (@draw_gregory) October 30, 2020
Hardee-har-har, so hilarious. But just you wait!
BREAKING: ONE HUNDRED MILLION PPL HAVE VOTED EARLY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION
Via @WinWithJMC
— Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) November 3, 2020
It actually happened!!!! The news came through just this morning! SO WE ARE GETTING EX-GIRLFRIEND TURTH OR DARE!! IT IS HAPPENING!! YAY DEMOCRACY!!
Yes, I made this myself.
WHEW. And now on to much, much more serious news…
The Anxious Person’s Guide to the 2020 Election
The Small but Mighty Power of Black LGBTQ Voters
A Record Number of Black Southerners Could Be Elected to the Senate in 2020
Just 15 percent of LGBTQ+ people are Republicans, compared to 35 percent of the general population. (haha, duh!) For those that support President Trump, who are they, and what do they believe? These Gay Voters Are Backing Trump. Here’s Why. (I assume the answer is: They are racists and also that they hate themselves, but I didn’t actually read the link so you can go ahead and tell me if I guessed right)
Related: “There’s a simple question that needs to be asked if you really want to make sense of the upcoming American election. Are American white people ready to — really — reject fascism?”
And Still Related: The Long Shadow of Racial Fascism
Rivals in Landmark Marriage Equality Suit: We Are Both Voting for Biden. From both Obergefell and Hodges.
I’m 20. As a First-Time Voter, My Generation’s Trauma Is on the Ballot.
The Electoral College, Explained. (Just in case you still don’t quite get it, no problem! Also the short answer on this is: The Electoral College was Affirmative Action for slave holders, and we still have it because America’s still racist! Love u.)
More Millennials Are Working at the Polls This Year. Spend a Day With Two of Them. All these stories about Millenials becoming poll workers so the elders in our community who are at high risk for comorbidities tied to COVID can stay home and stay safe just warm my heart so much!! There is good in this world, we just have to look to see it!)
Saw This, Thought of You
Election Day Stress & Anxiety Activities
From The New York Times, Election Distractor (Ok I actually did this one myself, and it’s kinda fun?)
10 Ways to Stay Grounded on Election Day
If you want to deep dive into something that will take an hour of your life and mean absolutely nothing or cause any harm to anyone: Cara Delevingne’s Bisexuality: The Definitive Vapid Fluff Timeline from your friendly weird geniuses at Autostraddle
If you, like me, like to get lost in cooking projects: Distraction Cooking
And finally, a playlist:
Made a playlist to get me through today. Only criteria: it makes me happy, wanna dance, relax, confident or brings a warm memory
In case it’s helpful to anyone else (warning: it is alllll over the place, just like my brain rn 🙃 ) https://t.co/yK1eq9imza
— Aisha Harris (@craftingmystyle) November 3, 2020
I hope this time Elections play a fair game. Lol.
Also definitely the black southerners will win because the truth will win not immediately, but definitely.
I love the article. Thanks for sharing this news.
sarcastic comment but in positive way!
WHAT?! What is this Janelle and tessa content? Are they trying to murder me? Much better way to go than my current death-by-stress situation.