narrowsgate has been repeatedly called out for transphobia and for platforming terfs. sappho recently kicked a bunch of trans members out of their server for opposing it. please don't platform them on positivetea and delete your positive posts. if you search tumblr, you'll find multiple posts about it.
narrowsgate, sappho, bastion, and scratch have all been blacklisted. further details below the cut.
trigger warnings are included for transphobia, bigotry, lesbophobia/homophobia, abuse, and suicidal ideation.
i took a few days to review this, and i appreciate your patience while i did so. given tumblr's unreliable search function, i made an effort to thoroughly look into the matter and also reached out to individuals i knew to have direct experience with the site. for transparency, i did not contact narrowsgate, its staff or members, or those who originally posted about the situation here on tumblr.
based on what i've found, i will be privatizing all posts related to narrowsgate except for this one. if anyone has clarifying information or direct proof for or against these allegations, my messages are open. however, i will only consider messages from people off anon in this matter. i understand this may be frustrating, but given the severity of these claims and the number of people corroborating them, i believe there is enough reason to blacklist narrowsgate on rpcpositivitea for the sake of community safety, at least for now. i am not deleting the posts but making them private, leaving room for reevaluation if credible information comes forward.
i want to reiterate: rpcpositivitea is a positivity blog. this space exists to uplift each other and share the joy in this hobby. i don't do gossip, harm, or call-outs, and i will never allow bigotry of any kind.
to be absolutely clear: there is nothing positive about transphobia.
at this moment in history, with escalating attacks on human rights in the united states and worldwide, silence is complicity. true allyship requires action, not passivity. we must be willing to stand up for one another. with this in mind, i can't sit back and wait for clarification to come to me. i have to act now for the safety of this community, which is why i am making this post public. agree or disagree, i will never be on the side of transphobia.
all of that said, i sincerely hope these allegations are a misunderstanding or stem from ignorance rather than intentional harm. if so, they can be addressed, bridges can be built, and people can learn. but if what has been alleged is true, then transphobia, in any form, has no place in our communities, individual or collective, or on this blog. in this situation, i am choosing safety over uncertainty, despite any hope i may have.
have a good day, rpc. let's all strive to do better, so posts like this don't have to keep being made.
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edit, approximately eight hours later:
for now, the blacklist will remain in place, regardless of whether the site has been 'reclaimed.'
i've received a lot of submissions about this situation, and the volume and nature of these messages have left me feeling unsettled. the latest submission suggested that those accusing others of transphobia are actually manipulating things, committing lesbophobia and harassment, and using their identities to avoid accountability while trying to take over the site. the formal confirmation of that final point does complicate things as well.
i've also received reports that the two main people accusing others of transphobia have been guilty of these actions in the past, as well as other harm, abuse, and harassment. it's also been reported that they've previously used their identities to avoid responsibility, labeling others with transphobia to have their actions ignored while further harming the other party, though it's unclear whether that's the case in this situation or if sappho's actions actually fit that label. i'm only mentioning this for transparency, but let me be clear: everything shared with me has been contradictory, so please take it with a grain of salt. i just want to acknowledge why the blacklist has not only stood but extended, given the lack of clarity and severity of the allegations on both sides.
since this post went live, the new information has led me to blacklist not just sappho and narrowsgate, but also bastion and scratch. everything about this is unclear, and because of that, it doesn't feel right to remove them from the blacklist at this time. the reality is, this situation is messy and harmful, and while i hope everyone can heal and find peace, i now won't be removing them from the blacklist even if the site moves forward with bastion and scratch in charge instead of sappho. i've also privatized all posts about sappho, bastion, and scratch, as well as narrowsgate as i had already. it was incredibly sad to do this, considering many of them showed a longstanding friendship between the three, with them coming to me to raise one another up frequently. still, from what i've seen, both sides have their faults and there's been very little positivity to be found here.
the main point is that there's never an excuse for transphobia or any form of bigotry — but also, honestly, i'm not the rp police. i run a positivity blog, i don't have a personal stake in any of this and i'd much prefer to just stay out of it. so, that's where i'll leave it unless credible sources come forward off anon, as mentioned in the original post. keep in mind: off anon. the anon messages in my inbox currently will all be deleted shortly. this is because there's no credibility there. i'm sorry if this is upsetting, i really am.
my greatest hope in this situation is that everyone can move on, find peace, and heal. i hope this is the last time i have to edit this, as well.
lastly, i want to say good luck to everyone suffering through this and involved in any way. taking away the actions reported on both sides, underneath everything is a longstanding, seemingly deep friendship that was lost in a truly horrible way. that always comes with pain, which is then doubled considering how this has all transpired. i hope they all are taking some time for themselves and to mourn as it deserves.
additionally, given some of the things that have been submitted, i hope whoever is reading this knows that the world is better with them in it. i urge you to look up resources for dealing with suicidal thoughts if you are suffering through that. if others' actions are pushing you to feel an increase in those feelings, i am begging you to remove yourself from the situation entirely. block them, turn off your devices, go be around a loved one who can ground you and distract you or do whatever you need to do in order to survive. i love you, and i am so sorry you are dealing with these thoughts. please, don't listen to them. nothing is worth ending your life for and, as much as i love this hobby and focus on the joy here, that always includes rp. please seek help if you need it. i may not be a professional, so i will always recommend a hotline or chat service instead, but also my messages are open if you need someone to talk you through it. please do whatever it takes to keep yourself safe.
