When someone comes out as other-than-heterosexual to a religious fundamentalist (or someone who for whatever reason has an anti-gay ideology as part of their identity), the conversation often goes this way:
Sue: I know you’re really religious and… I think you should know…...
hey so my girlfriend is trying to get some extra cash doing tarot readings, she’s really good at them and I’m not just saying that…. I was the most skeptical person ever about these but there’s just something there and nowadays I’m way more open to spiritual stuff…
if you could support her that would be amazing. she’s been putting so much effort into all of it and only got one sale so far, so genuinely i’d appreciate it so so much!!
here’s a link to her shop: SimplyAWitch on Etsy
and to her instagram: simplyawitch
another important thing about solidarity within queer communities is that so many of us will identify with different labels (especially when we are young/still figuring out that we aren’t straight & cis to begin with) before figuring out how we identify longterm. E.g. gay people who start out identifying as bi, trans men who initially identify as butch lesbians, asexuals who at first identify as bisexual (because hey, that’s technically being equally attracted to multiple genders), and so on. In fact, most queer people, at one time or another, identified as cishet. So we of all people should be aware that figuring out our identities takes time, and is a winding path.
And this is why solidarity in our communities is so important. And why gatekeeping is so dangerous. Because not only is each part of our community a longterm home, sanctuary, and support system for people of a certain identity, we also provide a path and an unofficial Welcoming Committee to new members of the wider LGBTQA+ community (especially young queer people, for whom a supportive welcoming is so important). And in turn, many of the people who find their way to us will be coming from a different part of the rainbow path. This is also why bigotry is so so damaging when it comes from within our communities, and why we each of us have a responsibility to examine our prejudices and acknowledge that being queer doesn’t automatically give us a pass–we are just as capable of bigotry as anyone on the outside, and in a unique position to do harm from within. Fight transphobia, fight aphobia, fight biphobia, fight racism and ableism and discrimination wherever you see it in our communities. And more than that, celebrate ALL the colors on our flags, and all of the diverse communities they represent. Solidarity makes us so much more powerful, as a community and as individuals. So I’d like to start by saying:
I was tagged by startrekmania. (Oh God, I've never been before and I'm all flustered about it.) It's a question game! Here are the rules: Answer the questions. Write 11 new questions. Tag 11 people. Let them know they’ve been tagged and…GO!
1. STAR TREK???
I'll take one in every color. *expectantly folds hands together* I’m a new Trekkie, just sat down to my first TOS episode earlier this year in fact, but I've fallen hard and I'm so far gone. Like, picking out my Starfleet uniform pajamas gone. I intend to see all of it, though, in order of publication.
2. Pick your favorite character from your favorite book, movie, or TV series and explain why! No, it does not have to be Star Trek.
Mm, well. Choosing absolute favorites isn't exactly my thing - no one and nothing ever occupies those spaces for long, alone at least. It's a temporary position, we'll put it that way. But! For Star Trek, it's always been Spock. AOS, TOS, every possible iteration; all his imperfections, his irrationalities, his mistakes, and the other sides of those coins. I just flat-out love him.
3. What stereotype would you stereotype yourself as?
Hm. If we go all TVTropes here, The Quiet One? Either that, or Defrosting Ice Queen with a generous shot of Hates Small Talk.
4. What is/was your favorite/best subject in school?
Thankfully I'm well and truly out of it now, but it was English. I was one of those insufferable advanced track underachievers it came naturally to. I had just enough raw talent to maintain and even sometimes surpass the expected level of performance in my classes without much effort - sat through a few awkward heart-to hearts with teachers who thought that with further application I could have a future as an author, in fact - but I was honestly never more miserable than when I was writing. And that still holds true. So it was my best, yes, but never my favorite.
5. What’s your dream job?
This is unimpressive. But anything that totals around thirty hours a week, is done solitarily, requires constant physical exertion, and is never taken home after hours suits me. Extra points for low stakes and midnight shifts. You know, office cleaning, overnight retail ... I'm not ambitious, and I don't dream above what I consider my desserts.
6. How has your blog transformed from when you first created it?
When I first joined up just over a year ago I had no intention of running a blog of my own - my account was strictly a way to keep tabs on the artists, writers, and other fandom creatives whose work I wanted to follow. Even so, I was terribly self-conscious about everything tumblr at first; I didn't even click like on all of the posts I genuinely liked for fear of drawing attention to myself. It took a few months for me to brave interacting with other users (my first foray into that venture was my entry for the I'm the Real Project), and a few more to start posting anything of my own. I'm still not what you would call an active poster, but now there's at least a bit to see on my page. Check out my art tag, if you want?
7. Android, iPhone, oldPhone, WindowsPhone, BlackBeret (Blackberry), or other?
iPhone. My S.O. received one as a gift from his father, and before you could say "hailing frequencies open" I had it nestled between an off-brand screen protector and a Spock-themed hard case, bursting with bookmarks and notes on fic reccs. It's more of a portable slash fiction library than a communication device, really, as far as I'm concerned.
8. xBox, PlayStation, PC, Wii, or other?
xBox, PlayStation, and PC! I've got a first-gen box and a 360, as well as a PS1 and 2. Besides that, I've got a NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, GameBoy, GBA, DS, DSiXL, 2DS, Genesis, Saturn, and Dreamcast. I ... might have a bit of a habit.
9. What career would you have in Starfleet and why?
I'd be stunned more than anyone if I managed to snag a berth in Starfleet of all places, but knowing me it'd have to be something maintainence-related; haven't got the education or experience for anything else. I'd be the one scrubbing down the corridors, polishing the bulkheads, sanitizing the replicators. Unglamorous, maybe - but I don't live my life at work.
10. More specifically, what would you love to do in Starfleet and why?
I'm kinda delighted that there's a distinction made between what you'd actually do and what you'd love to, haha - refreshing. Call me crazy, but if I could choose I think I'd be proud to don a redshirt and do my level best to protect and serve my fellow crewmen phaser in hand, even if it would very likely mean my death. I've always been a crack shot, oddly enough, and I've got a decent danger sense. Call it intuition? Frankly, having the opportunity to bend any skill I have to service other than my willingness to singlemindedly work where other people just won't for once (if you can call that a skill) ... would be interesting.
11. What’s your biggest fear?
This questionnaire doesn't pussyfoot around, does it? *shuffles feet* I'll come out and say it, though; the thing I'm most afraid of is losing my significant other to death. It terrifies me so much to think about that I can barely bring myself to type it out - we've been together eight years and understand each other so well, leaving even the love aside - that I can't help but believe I'll never find anything to rival it again. I'd unironically call the man my t'hy'la ... so, um. Yeah. I'll play myself out.
Oh, but my questions!
1. List your top three vices. 2. Now, your top three virtues. 3. Any personal quirks you're fond of? 4. What was the last thing you were really surprised by? 5. Lay out your favorite outfit, and tell us why it's your favorite. 6. And your favorite meal? Take us all around the plate. (Bonus: give recipes.) 7. What was the first thing you can remember being a fan of, i.e. your first fandom? 8. Is there anything you've always wanted, but would be embarrassed to actually own? 9. Can you recite anything from memory, like a poem, or a passage from a script or book? 10. Would you rather be caught in a lie, or realize that someone's been dishonest with you? 11. If you had to choose between a new television adaption, movie, or novelization of your favorite story, which would you go with?
As for my tags, because I'd love to see their answers, I'll go with: sionid, sunderlorn, wiggleofjudas, needlesslycryptic, trashhqueen, and maketreknotwar. Hope you don't mind, tag-ees!
But I confess I don't actually have enough tumblr acquaintances to completely fulfill the last bit of this meme. So if you're seeing this and would like to make a go of it, consider yourself tagged by me!
Oh! I didn't even notice. Well, look on the bright side - Okimokok 3102 sounds fetchingly futuristic. (⌒▽⌒)☆
http://carletoncolton.tumblr.com/ has sent me so many pictures of herself for reference, thank you so much! Here is another, a quick sketch before sleep, i hope you like it
Better watch the fuck out for that puddle.
RAW GIVEAWAY
Hi guys! I have 9 contributor’s copies of @rawfanzine to give away, along with most of the art and stickers and bookplates and one of the pins. (One of the books will be sans bookplate and art. That book gets the pin.)
If you want one, please:
be a legal adult; I don’t want to get in trouble with anyone’s parents
reblog and tag urself as US or International - I’m only going to send two or three of these international because I can’t afford to do more than that
make sure your asks are open / messaging is on so I have some way to contact you
If you can buy one from someone who’s selling them, please do. I’d prefer these go to people who couldn’t afford them otherwise. Thanks! <3
I’ll contact the winners by September 13th.
The color gray can help reduce loneliness or sorrow. This is also a color for neutralizing or balancing energies.
any sort of sex positivity message that refers to its readers as “dearest perverts” is invariably going to alienate ppl who are uncomfortable with sex and sexuality, and they’re the ones who need it most. “embrace how disgusting you are” rhetoric is not going to benefit people who struggle to convince themselves that they aren’t actually disgusting
Tagged: @the-ever-chaos-collective (Thank you~ 😘👉 ❤️)
slow burn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt-comfort or amnesia // fantasy AU or modern AU // mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut or fluff // canon-compliant or fix-it// reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi chapter // kid fic or road trip fic// arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high school romance or middle aged romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbours or roommates // sci-fi AU or magic AU // body swap or gender bend // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane
Tagging: @the-horae @host-of-chthon @pedlimwen @amervalk @springacres @nivjolteon (But only if you’d like~ 📚 📖✨)
You said for mutuals to tag you and it looked fun so @baronvonriktenstein
slow burn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt-comfort or amnesia // fantasy AU or modern AU // mutual pining(I write too much mutual pining) or domestic bliss // smut or fluff // canon-compliant or fix-it(like every mass effect fic ever)// reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi chapter // kid fic or road trip fic// arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high school romance or middle aged romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbors(I actually wrote an au like that) roommates // sci-fi AU or magic AU // body swap or gender bend // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane
I’ll tag @crqstalite @confundere @the-ever-chaos-collective