[expressions-of-nature]

by Nikolett Emmert

[violentcherries]

just so you know

2020

[mossworth]

Guys, queers. Specifically my fellow queers.

I work at a library. We do this thing where, every so often, we weed the collection. It hurts to see books go, but it's necessary to make sure there's room in the library for new materials.

I have seen so much support for the library in text, and I've seen folks pass around those beautiful "queer your library" flyers. Keep doing that. That's great. Nothing wrong with that. But you HAVE to turn your words into action. We MUST remember to actually go to our local organizations and libraries and actually, with our own fucking hands, interact with these materials we want to see more of.

My branch is medium-sized for a library, maybe a little small. We don't have as many materials as I'd like, but we have fundamentals. Tell me why, even with all the verbal support I've gotten from my local community for the library as a resource for our LGBT+ community, every single trans biography and a good chunk of our vaguely queer theory books were on the list. This isn't a scheme to take the books off the shelves, it isn't another bigoted American governmental push. The only thing we look at when we weed is how long it's been since the last time the item was checked out.

Three years.

No one in my community interacted in any meaningful way with the few books on trans life and history we physically had on the shelves for three fucking years.

I promise you the materials you want and need are there, but this isn't a horde. This isn't a static safety net. You have to use them. You MUST use them or, in the future, maybe in three years, they *won't* be there anymore.

This isn't a vague post, there's no one person I'm hinting at or calling out. I'm not even talking directly to anyone who's directly in my line of sight. I just want everyone to hear this. Big library, small library, whatever. Doesn't matter. Please, we cannot be losing our shelf visibility like this.

[alanfromrochester]

I work in a different library and can confirm, it's a decision based on popularity not censorship

we're big enough to have lots of shelf space but still have the problem on a different scale. We do have a back storage room rather than completely getting rid of some things, but having to ask for that might be a barrier for sensitive subject matter and prevent people from casually stumbling across something of interest

[paintedpigeon1]

Yep. Different library worker here, we weeded adult non-fiction recently bc it's most rarely used and we needed to clear a bookshelf of space, and there were a decent number of queer books on the list. Thankfully not all of them, but some (we had a lot lol). Our criteria is also no borrows in 3yrs. I can't borrow the whole list by myself. I do try to get these books in, and the local authority are happy to buy them, but we need space for new books every so often and we can't keep everything forever! If you want them, you have to use them!

(incidentally, the whole list was 35 pages long, which... please borrow the books you want people)

[qbdatabase]

I didn't have time to comment the first time I reblogged, but I can add now:

I'm also a librarian and queer books are almost always cut first when we have to weed for space or prioritize new releases over old items because no one reads them

I will say, when I worked at a large downtown location, we had a "browsing card" that we would check out items we found taken off the shelf and left on a table, as an example of a book that had clearly been read, just not checked out by anyone

it's possible queer books do actually get a bit of unfair treatment in this regard because people may be nervous or outright scared to check them out onto an account with their name on it. so they get browsed at a much higher rate, but if a library doesn't have a specific system in place (or need for it) to count browsed items, then it looks like they aren't being used and they get weeded

for other librarians, a browsing card is a great idea if you have enough staff for the extra work / enough items left out to justify it

for patrons, check out queer books even if you don't read them! you're not lying or committing any type of fraud. you're keeping books on the shelf long enough for pride season when people are interested in checking them out again and for people scared to use their own accounts or who don't have library cards

for anyone nervous about using their library card, libraries do not keep search histories of what you check out!! this means even if the government does come back with a warrant, *wet farting noise* too bad! it doesn't exist!

so please check out queer books!

[vtothefun]

I have to wonder how often they aren't checked out because those in an exploratory period may not feel safe enough for them to go home with them, too. Kids, for example, or folks who have ended up in a het marriage that... Doesn't feel like it's quite right (or may be physically abusive).

[mossworth]

This is most definitely one of the causes of this. That's why it's so important for folks who *can* to *do*.

It feels like such a small thing, but all movements are made up of small things! We have this mindset that in order to get everything done, everyone must be doing their (or *the*) absolute best at all times. But not everyone can do the same things, to the same degree, with the same amount of productivity or success. Not everyone can; sometimes, they're the ones that need help. Sometimes people just need help.

This post is very much so intended for the people who can. I've seen a lot of replies from folks who say they don't have to (or don't think about) checking out or requesting queer books from the library specifically because they *can* buy them, can pirate them, or already have them in their house or on their computers or phones. But in instances like that, keeping these books in circulation is less for you and more for the people who can't. The folks who come to the library, who don't have access to internet--or even electricity--at home and would never--have never--been able to interact with this "ubiquitous queer community" we have here online who has made so many of these. materials so avaliable to the rest of us.

And... if I can be a little frank. Sometimes the hyperaccessibility of these materials online (through pirating, cheap e-book copies, etc) gives people a false sense of security. It implies that these things are an infinate resource, good for "When I get around to it".

And often, you won't. There's so much to read and so much to do. So much to download and so much to sit down and stare at for hours. That kind of mental scope puts books in people's hands (or phones), but never in their heads.

But the moment your favorite document archival site gets knocked offline for breaching copyright or your go-to mega corporate audiobook distributor decides it doesn't want "those" materials anymore, what's left? What did you download? What information did you internalize? Did you ever get around to it? If you did, great, but what good does that do for the person who didn't? Are you going to be the one to redistribute that information? Are you going to communicate it in the place of the author whose words are no longer publically accesible or, mostly avaliable, but only behind hefty paywalls and financial gatekeeping? How would someone else get a hold of it? How could they, if they wanted?

[vtothefun]

This is excellent info.

What are some good books to check out for those who can?

[mossworth]

Gosh... there's so many options. I wouldn't know where to start without knowing who I'm talking to and what they're looking for. What I can recommend is for folks to check out creators like @makingqueerhistory who have spent just a ridiculously beautiful amount of time collecting queer history and book lists! You'll find something in seconds reading their page.

Personal pitch: I liked the books Tar Hollow Trans and Gay Poems for Red States. Both great.

[makingqueerhistory]

I'm glad I was tagged in this because it means I can cosign (and also add a little nugget of info).

I live in a province that is currently trying to ban queer books from libraries, and as a library patron, this is terrifying. 95% of the books I read are from the library and a lot of them are way out of my budget to buy personally.

Making Queer History would not exist without the school library I skipped class in to write articles. It would not exist without my friends with library cards for their universities sharing them and getting me access to rare texts. I would not be able to read as much as I do without Libby and Hoopla. If I have ever given you a book recommendation, know that I likely got it from the library first.

I cannot overstate the importance of protecting libraries and checking out queer books. And I want to say thank you to everyone above for being as passionate as I am about queer books in libraries.

Love y'all <3

[90-ghost]

Life outside seems easier than the 'prison life' we endure in Gaza. I try to imagine other places where life is difficult, but I realize that even the harshest environments are open; at least there is a way out. Gaza is a closed prison. A rocket could kill you at any moment, food and water are rationed, and the heaviest burden is being besieged by memories, destruction, and graves. It is a constant cycle of physical and psychological torment.

Prices in Gaza have started to rise unusually, and goods have almost disappeared from the markets. Types of vegetables are scarce and expensive, and meats have vanished from the markets too. I mean, what's happening is the beginning of a new famine; food is expensive and scarce in the markets!

Every help is appreciated guys you can DONATE HERE

Go to paypal.me/bushrabo and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries.

[90-ghost]

Today is A NEW MONTH WE NEED YOUR HELP & SUPPORT ❤️

[90-ghost]

Days are so fast we’re already 11 of June!

[bruzum]

[lastvalyrian]

This is literally what people are talking about when they say AI will be used to mainstream widely held bigotry. LLMs are trained on frequency and probability -> straight relationships are more well represented in the dataset -> straight pronouns and terms become the "correct" normal.

This is a form of backdoor bigotry from both normative facts (there are more straight than gay relationships) and well represented bigoted beliefs (men are superior to women).

Combine this with the mass of people inclined to believe (and being encouraged to believe) that if AI says and does something it must be correct

[fashion-runways]

TEUTA MATOSHI Couture 2026 pls help me get out of debt donating to: ko-fi.com/fashionrunways or dinahlance-shop.fourthwall.com

[tieflingkisser]

[lesbianslimefriend]

here's where to find it on windows 10

[the-tiny-dragons-tea-room]

Ugh, it was in mine. It's off now.

[the-tiny-dragons-tea-room]

IT GETS WORSE

I had to turn this off, but it's something that allows Windows and anyone using your device to generate text/images.

LOBOTOMIZE YOUR MACHINES

[marougus-the-dragon]

AI is a freacking plague, I share this for any windows user.

[wolf-aid]

The American Dream (Enhanced Edition).

Oh, guys, we just need a little to get to the middle of our goal We are close to 15,000 We need less than €2,250! Come on, guys! We just need 7%To reach 50% of the target ..

[wolf-aid]

We're in the middle of the school. Guys, we're done building the classrooms. School thanks to your donations, this is a very wonderful thing Thank you to everyone who donated and participated But we still have a lot of lacking

[wolf-aid]

Hey guys, let's be snug. Why don't we complete donations quickly? Why don't you help us spread this out for fundraising? This is considered an institution. Why doesn't anyone care about her? I'm overloading my energy. Please create posts everywhere. Everything is available in Gaza, but education is still not available please help with posting We're doing a good job, please share and donate now.

Donate to Help the children of Gaza get a safe and free education., organized by Asma Yunis

The Coastal Initiative in Gaza urgently needs your support to laun… Asma Yunis needs your support for Help the children of Gaza get a safe a

[faacethefacts]

Please donate anything you can, you could make a real difference in these children's education here!

[trawl]

Ibrahim is doing really really important work! Let's help him!

[wolfer-aid]

Hey guys, come on, come on, we can do it all together. Please donate and share this post now, and if you can post about it, you guys are our only hope. Come on, come on, please.

[wolf-aid]

Please if you have a slightly large blog even if it has a few posts please send me a message to just talk I need help I need help talking about publishing my posts and these things please send me a message if you like help

[hudconera]

this is like a renaissance painting

[junglejim4322]

Unironically I think the early to mid 20s age group in America has unbelievably bad consent boundaries on all levels and so much language to defend it but this makes me sound like elon musk if I say it however the commonality of someone who will be like “I had 47 panic attacks and it’s your fault” if you tell them no is insane

[junglejim4322]

I rejected someone and got called “the scariest person I’ve ever met” with so much therapy speak interspersed like alright okay alright okay alright okay

[junglejim4322]

“You just say whatever you’re thinking and I don’t know how to handle it” was verbatim part of this conversation. Also everyone hates to see an autistic bitch

[transhumanisticpanspermia]

When I was in this age bracket, there was a huge emphasis on improving consent culture via graceful rejection, and it's gone by the wayside. Which sucks.

Twice in my youth (once in high school and once in college) I was in situations where I was asking someone out and I could tell they were calculating in their heads the risks of rejecting me, and both times I said, out loud, "you can say no, I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't prepared for either answer." And then they said no. This wasn't some spark of special wisdom I had - I knew to do it because feminist conversations among my age group brought it up regularly. This isn't happening nearly enough anymore.

More recently, I was really glad when we got to "rejection sensitive dysphoria" in my IOP program and it was one of those symptoms where the therapists really emphasized how it affects others. Because it does.

Being someone who cannot handle rejection makes you much more likely to violate boundaries, and yes, that includes sexual ones. Yes, you, reader who has never hurt a fly. If you don't want to stumble backwards into sexually assaulting someone, fix your RSD meltdowns. If you keep them up it's only a matter of time. Because if you're nice enough to interact with, but are known to have RSD meltdowns, guess what happens when your friends and acquaintances need to reject you?

[deansxharley]

this pride, i have decided to be an extremely bitter and mean lesbian. get this man (roommate's new boyf/situationship) out of my house. GET OUT GET OUT GET OUTTTTTTT

[deansxharley]

omg the power of manifestation... he just left !!! yippeeeee

[deansxharley]

this pride, i have decided to be an extremely bitter and mean lesbian. get this man (roommate's new boyf/situationship) out of my house. GET OUT GET OUT GET OUTTTTTTT

[asterisadisaster]

There is a severe lack of trans masc representation in romance books

Im always on the hunt for a spicy or feel good romance book that has includes a trans masc or nonbinary mc! But i also don’t want to read about teenagers ya know? Im an adult i wanna read about adults falling in love. But also they are gay and trans! But also the whole plot isnt about transness or transphobia! Feels like there just isn’t enough of these kinds of books and it sucks!

[queerliblib]

we may be able to help!! these all have trans masc or nonbinary character(s) & a romance: some sci-fi, some contemporary, some historical etc..

A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell

World Running Down by AL Hess

Coffee Boy by Austin Chant

Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson

Chef’s Choice by T.J. Alexander (& others, ex. Second Chances in New Port Stephen)

The Chromatic Fantasy by H.A.

Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

[90-ghost]

Life outside seems easier than the 'prison life' we endure in Gaza. I try to imagine other places where life is difficult, but I realize that even the harshest environments are open; at least there is a way out. Gaza is a closed prison. A rocket could kill you at any moment, food and water are rationed, and the heaviest burden is being besieged by memories, destruction, and graves. It is a constant cycle of physical and psychological torment.

Prices in Gaza have started to rise unusually, and goods have almost disappeared from the markets. Types of vegetables are scarce and expensive, and meats have vanished from the markets too. I mean, what's happening is the beginning of a new famine; food is expensive and scarce in the markets!

Every help is appreciated guys you can DONATE HERE

Go to paypal.me/bushrabo and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries.

[90-ghost]

Today is A NEW MONTH WE NEED YOUR HELP & SUPPORT ❤️

[90-ghost]

Today is my birthday 6/6

Send me gifts to my brother PayPal 😂❤️

[toneelspeelster]

shane's hands cradled ilya's face as he kissed him with the force of everything they had almost said out loud.

[stephexmachina]

worst mistake u can make w your male oc is giving him a sister that's cooler than him..... like sorry idw hear abt him anymore can he move tf out of the way

[stephexmachina]

"we follow this guy & his bf while his sister is off doing espionage" now hold on ✋ can i go with her