I Just Loved These Photos

Look at these photos. And these. These ones too. Don't forget about these. And these photos of queer women and men couples of color being in love. So much pride. This makes me smile. It's all so beautiful. Can you feel the pride tonight?

The Pride festivals are over - or just about - but that doesn't mean we can't have pride and love ourselves year-round. And right now, I have so much pride it's making me all choked up. So enjoy.

Because Queer Isn't a White Identity

I'm finding so many positive things for black queer and trans people on Tumblr, and so many positive things that tell me what I - and all other white queer and trans people - can do to be allies to our black siblings. Here are some great links:

11 Black Queer and Trans Women Discuss Self-Care

#BlackLivesMatter: 5 Ways to Amplify the Voices of Trans and Nonbinary Folks & Cis Women

Also, I unfortunately found this...but I'm going to use it to spread awareness. (TW: t slur, misgendering, nonconsensual outing of trans women, n slur from someone who may or may not be black)


{Image description: a screenshot from a Verizon phone, showing a message on Instagram. Someone calling themselves Prince Javionn is outing the trans women of Chicago. His message reads: These are all tr*nnies of Chicago!!!! ~several emoticons~ & I'm exposing them because they not letting these n*ggas know that they are men ~more emoticons~}

So, yes. Someone's outing the trans women - so far, all of his victims are  black - of Chicago. And most trans people, DMAB trans people and trans people of color especially, know how dangerous that is. If you have an Instagram account, report Prince Javionn and his campaign to out trans women so he is forced to stop. Support our black trans sisters.

And remember to use the #BlackLivesMatter, #TransLivesMatter, and #BlackTransLivesMatter hashtags on social media.

Frida Kahlo

I love Frida Kahlo, so I'm posting her art here...


{image description: Frida is standing against a green wall with a light pink flower pattern. She is wearing a hot pink shawl, black flowered dress, purple dangling earrings, and a pink headband of roses in her hair, which is done in an updo. Her makeup is very heavy, giving her extremely pale skin and bright pink cheeks.}


{image description: Frida featured from the shoulders up, wearing a white shirt, with a necklace of thorns and bird pendant around her neck, a small money and black cat looking over her shoulder, and leaves in the background}



{image description: double self-portrait. On the left is Frida wearing a long white dress dotted with blood or flowers, it's hard to tell. She's holding hands with the Frida on the right, who is wearing a blue and gold shirt and long green and white skirt. Both women's hearts have been torn from their chests}

Badass Black Women

These beautiful, badass ladies have kicked some serious butt and took names while fighting oppressive systems of power and changing the world. They deserve recognition. Therefore, I'm reblogging these:

22 Badass Black Women Who are Leading Movements, Changing the World, And Generally Being Awesome

9 Badass Black Feminists and Their Books that Shook the World

100+ LGBTQ Black Women You Should Know

Sojourner Truth

Harriet Tubman

Ella Fitzgerald

Rosa Parks

Because Black Trans Women are Beautiful

I've finally decided what to write.

In light of the recent murder of Black trans woman Penny Proud, the fact that it's Black History Month, and the fact that Black and trans women are systemically dehumanized and demeaned as well as disproportionately raped and murdered, I've decided to write a feminist YA fantasy fanfiction celebrating and affirming the beauty and diversity of Black women, trans women, and women who are both. How, you ask?

Isabelle Lorde.

Belle, along with several other queer women and women of color (and nonbinary people of color), is a main character in this fanfiction. She's the reincarnation of the Greek goddess of beauty, love, and sexuality, Aphrodite. She's also a dark-skinned Black Haitian trans woman, the behaviorist for her team of monster fighters and assorted supernatural badasses, and generally awesome.

And, of course, the story is going to contain a lot of discussion about Black women (I've asked a lot of questions to make sure I'm doing this respectfully, but if you see something problematic or disrespectful, let me know) and queer women in real life, because real life Black women, queer women, and Black queer women are awesome and deserve to be celebrated and written about.

I doubt I'll finish by the end of February, but I will finish.

I love writing about women and nonbinary people, especially those of color. Marginalized people are awesome and our stories - their stories, right now, because I'm white and Black people deserve to take center stage this month - and struggles deserve to be told, especially in fantasy. Because white cishet men aren't the only ones who can be badass.