GAYWRITES

Happy Valentine’s, loves. Whether you’re spending the day with your person, your friends, your family or your Xbox, I hope you have the time and space to love yourself, too. You’re amazing just as you are. That’s the most important thing. (And hey, if you’re having a rough day, you’re not the only one, and there’s lots of support out there!)

#lgbtq

#valentine's day

#love

#resources

14th Feb 2018 213 notes

You are allowed to take care of yourself. You are allowed to take care of yourself. You are allowed to take care of yourself. Too often we get the message that as LGBT it’s our responsibility to always be “on” — to always advocate for the cause, or to behave “properly,” or to keep the peace. We’re told that it’s our job to endure demonizing sermons and degrading misgenderings in the name of “dialogue” or whatever. But we don’t have to. We can set and maintain boundaries that keep us safe, happy, and healthy. You don’t have to go to the Christmas service at your awful childhood anti-gay church. You don’t have to explain how you know you’re a woman on the drive to your aunt’s house. Communicating your boundaries to your family ahead of time might work well for you or you can decide on them yourself and enforce them if folks bump up against them.

—

8 Queer Tips to Get Through the Holidays | Queer Theology

24th Dec 2017 464 notes

The problem with the Salvation Army is that they’ve layered the good in with the bad: the frosting is nice, but the cake is dry. In their mission statement, they say that their goal is “to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination,” and the without discrimination part is what gets me. Not discriminating against LGBTQ+ people isn’t a crowning achievement: it’s the bare minimum necessary to be a decent organization. To be an organization worthy of donations and financial support from people who care about LGBTQ+ folks and about equality, you have to do a whole lot more than simply not discriminating in order to pass go.

— 8 Queer Orgs to Support This Holiday Season — Instead of Salvation Army | Jacob Tobia for Them

17th Dec 2017 529 notes

TODAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017, IS THE LAST DAY TO ENROLL FOR 2018 HEALTH INSURANCE!

Visit Out2Enroll for LGBTQ-inclusive support, questions, or general help enrolling!

15th Dec 2017 4,288 notes

HAPPY NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY!

Here are some important things to remember about coming out:

You are valid and real, whether or not you’re out! Take your time. You’ll be ready when you’re ready. You are already good enough and you enough, no matter how “out” you are to the world.

You do not have to come out until you are ready! And only you can decide when that is, if it happens at all. It’s up to you and you alone to decide when you feel safe and comfortable enough to come out; it’s not anybody else’s choice to make for you. Speaking of which…

…You don’t get to decide when it’s time for someone else to come out – and you especially don’t have the right to out them! Coming out is one of the most personal decisions someone can make. Let them make it.

You can come out as many or as few times as you want! Did/does your identity change over time? Cool! You can update people as you go, or you can not; it’s your call. Meet somebody new who doesn’t know your identity? Up to you to decide whether to tell them!

There’s no one right way to come out! Face to face? In a letter? Via a relationship? With a cake? Whatever works! Do it your way.

Finally: Sometimes coming out is easy, and other times it’s really hard. Either way, there are so many people in the world who are rooting for you and who love you and who are here for you. So many!

Nine-ish years ago, I came out as bi. It has not always been easy, but it has always been worth it. I love you. You’re perfect. Have an amazing day.

(Thanks to adventuresingay for the lovely comic!)

#lgbtq

#news

#national coming out day

11th Oct 2017 1,139 notes

DON’T ask me if I’m worried this is “just a phase”. We all go through phases. I ratted my bangs and wore Z. Cavaricci pants. But I also started a journal in first grade, started writing poetry by second, and joined the church choir so I could sing all the time. Not phases. My son being trans is not a phase. Not at two, not at six, and not today at the age of nine. By asking me, it not only invalidates my decision, as a parent, to support my son, but also my son’s gender identity. And while we’re at it, DON’T ask if I’m worried he’ll change his mind. He never made his mind up to be trans; this is how he was born. And as he grows and matures, if he learns new things about himself and his identity, about his place in the world and how he fills it, that don’t match who and what he is now, I will still support him. I’m not worried in the least, because life is not a straight line from point A to point B.

— The Do’s And Don’ts Of Being An Ally To Parents Of Trans Kids | Pamela Valentine for HuffPost

5th Jul 2017 470 notes

As visibly observant Muslim women, it’s assumed we couldn’t possibly be a part of the LGBTQ movement. It’s like my hijab acts like a gaydar invisibility cloak—no matter what I do, my queer and trans identity is often erased the moment I put on a headscarf. Queer and trans Muslims have a tendency to be anything but people in the eyes of the world. Our experience is reduced to the hypothetical—most often as victims or as predators. We are denied the nuance of being real humans, with spiritual agency and lives of our own. The first step is considering the concrete reality of LGBTQ Muslim experience.

— 8 Ways for Non-Muslims to Support LGBTQ Muslims This Ramadan | Mahdia Lynn for Autostraddle

9th Jun 2017 1,330 notes

Identity politics are being blamed for everything, while white people of all stripes are eager to normalize a Trump presidency. As a Black queer femme low-wage worker, how can I stay calm when my rights are hanging in the balance? How do I hold my chin high when half of the populace perceives me as a menace?

— 5 Ways QTPoC Can Build Power During the Trump Era | Neesha Powell-Twagirumukiza for Black Girl Dangerous

23rd Jan 2017 225 notes

Happy New Year’s Eve! Here are some reminders of resources that could be useful:

In some locations throughout the U.S., AAA is offering a safe ride program to help you get home if you’ve been drinking
Here’s a refresher on the signs of alcohol poisoning
If you’re going to a party and you have social anxiety, hey, me too! Here are some tips that can help
Some advice on fireworks safety, because why not
It’s technically the end of the holiday season, but Everyone Is Gay’s holiday self-care kit is always relevant
In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY), the National Eating Disorder Helpline is 1-800-931-2237, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673, and SAMHSA’s helpline for substance abuse is 1-800-662-4357
If you or someone you know is in danger of harming themselves, call the Trevor Project (for LGBT youth) at 1-866-488-7386, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 (text HELLO to start), call the Trans Lifeline (by and for trans people) at 1-877-565-8860, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You’re not alone. You can do this.

I hope you spend tonight with people who bring you joy, whether in person, online, through an Xbox headset, or however else you’ve found your chosen family. We will make 2017 better. And we’ve always got each other.

#suicide mention

#domestic violence mention

#eating disorder mention

#sexual assault mention

#substance abuse mention

31st Dec 2016 377 notes

Everything You Need To Know About Changing Gender Markers On Your Identification Documents: BuzzFeed spoke to Chase Strangio from the ACLU, Aubri Drake from the Trans Relief Project, and Lurene Grenier from the Trans Relief Project to get all the facts about the legal aspects of a gender transition.

Read the full article here – especially if you’re in a hurry to get this done before our next president takes office.

29th Dec 2016 702 notes

If the holidays are rough for you, get this free LGBTQ self-care kit from Everyone is Gay → mashable.com

gaywrites:

Even in a non-garbagefire year, the holidays can be difficult, especially if you’re LGBTQ and your family doesn’t know or doesn’t get it. And after a garbagefire year like 2016, it can feel even worse.
That’s why Everyone is Gay worked with some of the coolest LGBTQ creators around to create Where The Love Light Gleams, an online LGBTQ self-care package that includes a comic, a crossword puzzle, a playlist, journaling and coloring pages, and a list of resources to help get you through. And even if you’re not anticipating any particular struggles this holiday season, everyone can benefit from some intentional self-care and reflective alone time!
“While we work hard every holiday season to provide resources to our community, I also knew that after this election season many LGBTQ people would need our help more than ever before,” Russo tells Mashable. “Those difficult holiday scenarios have become much more fraught in a political landscape where we are being told that our equality does not hold any importance.”
That devaluing of identity, Russo says, extends to multiple parts of a queer person’s identity, including their race, religious beliefs and disability status. Standing together to support all members and identities in the queer community, she adds, is especially crucial right now.
“[The political climate] is strengthening our fight and our resolve — but it can also become very hard to hold our heads high,” Russo says. “In my experience, when facing these issues, there are no tools more powerful than self-care and community.”
I love Everyone is Gay so much and I love this so much. The kit is completely free, so if you want it, get yours here!

ICYMI. Take care of yourselves, loves.

(via gaywrites)

24th Dec 2016 5,374 notes