What's Your Issue?

THE BLOG for What's Your Issue?: a national survey designed with and for LGBTQ and GNC youth to uplift the issues and experiences in our communities.Take our survey below and #AmpYourIssue!

[brooklynmanabita]

ALTERNATE ENDINGS, RADICAL BEGINNINGS

ALTERNATE ENDINGS, RADICAL BEGINNINGS is the 28th annual iteration of Visual AIDS’ longstanding Day With(out) Art project. Curated by Erin Christovale and Vivian Crockett for Visual AIDS, the video program prioritizes Black narratives within the ongoing AIDS epidemic, commissioning seven new and innovative short videos from artists Mykki Blanco, Cheryl Dunye & Ellen Spiro, Reina Gossett, Thomas Allen Harris, Kia LaBeija, Tiona Nekkia McClodden and Brontez Purnell.

In spite of the impact of HIV/AIDS within Black communities, these stories and experiences are constantly excluded from larger artistic and historical narratives. In 2016 African Americans represented 44% of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States. Given this context, it is increasingly urgent to feature a myriad of stories that consider and represent the lives of those housed within this statistic. ALTERNATE ENDINGS, RADICAL BEGINNINGS seeks to highlight the voices of those that are marginalized within broader Black communities nationwide, including queer and trans people.

The commissioned projects include intimate meditations of young HIV positive protagonists; a consideration of community-based HIV/AIDS activism in the South; explorations of the legacies and contemporary resonances within AIDS archives; a poetic journey through New York exploring historical traces of queer and trans life, and more. Together, the videos provide a platform centering voices deeply impacted by the ongoing epidemic.

visualaids.org/projects/detail/alternate-endings-radical-beginnings

[ampmyissue-blog]

CHECK OUT this phenomenal body of work for Day With(out) Art 2017 and much more at VisualAids.org

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

[Image description: Black text reading “Guest writers needed!” on a trans flag background]

Attention TTSG followers:

In order to provide resources to a broader range of people, we would like to include more personal, anecdotal experiences from people who can provide info on the following:

Binding with specific medical conditions that may affect the safety of binding

Using low dose estrogen to transition for AMAB/transfeminine individuals

Medical transition with an intersex condition

The process of medical transition in locations that are not America

Other unique trans-related experiences, specifically medical experiences. Contact us to see if your input could be helpful!

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to see written about, please reply to this post.

Please email submissions to [email protected] and include the following:

Your location (state/region and country)

Your URL so we can credit you, or a statement that you would like to be anonymous.

The name(s) of your doctor(s) if you are comfortable sharing 

You diagnosis(es) if applicable

Submitting does not guarantee that your writing will be be posted, in case we have submissions similar to each other or to information we already have. Make sure you check your email, as we may ask you for permission to edit (usually for spelling/grammar) or ask you for additional information.

[krxs10]

in case yall been sleeping here’s a reminder that we just shut down Mall Of America, the largest mall in the USA, to protest the wrongful deaths of young black men by police. #blacklivesmatter

[ottermatopoeia]

“the practice of capitalism and the greatest commercial holiday of the year are more important than your right to a peaceful protest”

[thepeoplesrecord]

They shut shit down.

[ddhclothing]

We’re back in business! Check out ddhapparel.com for your shirt or sweater and find out how your purchase helps support kids in Baltimore City!

[tugboat-sh3ila]

I need all of these shirts.

[estie-references]

[night-vale-community-radio]

please watch out for your trans siblings 

please protect your trans siblings 

please look out for and protect each other please please please 

these are dangerous times we’re heading in to 

there is safety in numbers, please look out for each other

[gaywrites]

October is LGBTQ History Month.

Because of generations of activists who came before us, we have made incredible strides toward justice.

Because of unconscionable hate in the White House and beyond, we have so much farther to go.

Because of brilliant, dedicated people fighting all over the world for what’s right, we will get there.

[ampmyissue-blog]

Happy LGBTQ History month!

[queergraffiti]

“Queer solidarity smashes borders”

Norwich, England

[conceptualsolitude]

speak to a flower today. send well-wishes to the bees. nod respectfully to all crows. thank the air.

[cartnsncreal]

These are some tiny heroes right here.

[latina-lesbian]

Let’s raise a generation like this please!!! ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

i'm afab and i'm getting cat called like crazy at work... is there anything that could help with the dysphoria it causes me? the uniforms are all gender neutral (thank god) so that's not entirely the issue..

Lee says:

You should talk to your boss and see what you can do to stop people from cat calling you! If you aren’t interacting with the people at our place of employment, invest in noise cancelling headphones if possible and play your favorite music. Also remember that catcalling is a reflection on them, and not you, and it isn’t your fault!

Distress tolerance

Emotion

Our Dysphoria Tips Masterpost

[amandagenine-deactivated2019062]

Some people with depression

- cannot get out of bed. Some can. 

- cannot keep a job. Some can. 

- cannot eat. Some can. 

- cannot stop eating. Some can. 

- self-harm. Some don’t. 

- are suicidal. Some aren’t. 

- take medication. Some don’t. 

- have more bad days than others 

- have more support systems than others

My point is that depression is not universal and while there is a general cluster of symptoms, it manifests differently in everyone. You can’t always spot depression on the street, in the grocery store, or at them gym. Depression doesn’t always jump out at you and let you know that there’s a person who is hurting deeply. Don’t contribute to stigmatization. 

[legitimatelala]

And also keep in mind your symptoms can change week to week, day to day, even hour to hour. One minute you may be suicidal and the next minute you might not be. And lastly you don’t have to have a damn “reason” to be depressed.

[jewish-mccoy]

I hope all Jewish and Muslim wlw are having an excellent day

[fromthemotionpicture]

[pro-gay]

werewolves are gay culture, whichever angle you look at it there’s nothing heterosexual about being a werewolf

[pro-gay]

Sorry to say this straights but jot down Orcs as gay culture as well!

[pro-gay]

Witches? Gay! Mermaids? Gay! Vampires? Gay! Dwarves? Gay! Elves? Gay! Hobbits? Gay! Centaurs? Gay!  Giants? Gay!  Dragons? Gay! That eye tower from lord of the rings? G a y!

Your fantasy creature is gay, your mythical creature is gay

They’re all gay!

[mattgo1698-deactivated20170715]

How about they just be fictional monsters with no unique characteristics and leave it at that.

[pro-gay]

[comtessedebussy]

You jest, but here is an academic article about how werewolves are gay. Also here is an entire book about how monstrosity is often used as a metaphor for queerness in horror cinema. 

[mwg-drwg]

[thinfatfit]

Paloma Elsesser