#we're all valid

[ace-sher-bi-john]

Just wanted to reaffirm to myself and the world that romance-favorable aros are valid. Greyromantics, demiromantics and any other aro-spec identities that experience occasional romantic attraction are valid. Aromantics who for whatever reason still desire and take part in romantic relationships are valid.

It's been a bit of a rough ride to get to where I know this to be true. When I first found out I was aroace, I felt broken for identifying as aroace and still wanting to get married someday. It felt like I was lying in some way, or that I was betraying the aromantic community by wanting what by definition of being aromantic, I should never want. I felt guilty knowing my future partners would feel things towards me that I would never be able to feel in return.

I know that most of the aromantic affirmations are themed around wanting to make sure that aromantics in general know they are valid in an amatonormative world. Most aromantics experience the exact opposite problem as me, not feeling valid in having zero desire for romantic relationships (which is of course valid, romance-indifferent, romance-averse and romance-repulsed aros are very much valid). But there is next to nothing on the internet that I've been able to find saying that it's okay to be aromantic and romance favorable. You're not betraying the community in some way. You're valid too.

So here's that post. If you are romance-favorable and aro-spec, you're valid too. Don't feel as though your identity forces you into a box. The label that fits you best isn't tailor made specifically for you and you can do whatever you want to make it your own.

[coulsons-band]

*holding snw characters in my hands like a precious rock collection* i just think they're pretty and neat

[arabela25]

no one who's been watching sanremo all week can complain about the length of festival da canção

[scienceiscoolkids]

As a cis lesbian, Trans Women Are Women...I can't believe this is even a question

[madammuffins]

Cope

Some of us turn meek and mild, shy away from the dangers that broke our skin and marred our complexions. "Sleep Sweet Baby" is your lullaby for us and we are comforted in welcome arms as surviving victims, delicate, so meek and mild. "This is how a victim should be" you say, "scared and cowed. Pitiable and crying. Flinching and defenseless." Because it still gives you power, maybe? Even when we're free from the abuse we are still weak for you, still hurting, still fresh. Prey. Twitching little bunnies calmed by exposing our bellies.

Some of us turn feral and wild when the tears dry. When the cuts scab and scar, when the bruises yellow and green. We are blistering and foaming at the society that watched this happen; let our hearts bleed and claws grow sharp from digging into palms, tongues quick and wounding from years of hiding behind enameled cages. "Calm down and be a victim" is what you sing, scorned by the discomfort because that's not what you believe a victim should look like - middle fingers raised as high as our heads, crowns of bruises and split blood for the world to see. "They shouldn't be proud of the damage they've endured, they shouldn't flaunt and talk about it, Hush now, hush now, hide it. You are making me UNCOMFORTABLE."

And with our predatory smiles, jagged and wolfish from the cuts and splits in our lips, we will say "GOOD".  

_______________________

All abuse survivors, all trauma survivors, deserve to be heard and validated and healed and loved. No matter how they cope.

[cervus-scribe]

Sometimes I’ll bitch and whine to my artist friends that I wish I could draw. 

They bitch back to me that they wish they could write. 

I’ve heard dancers complain that they can’t sing, and then singers complain that they can’t dance. 

We all have something someone else wants. 

[essektheylyss]

Me: Essek Thelyss is my fave, my son, look at this beautiful meta about him and his situation and his position within the world in terms of morality and atonement

Also me: AHAHAHAHA WHAT A DUMBASS GET HIS ASS

[transgender-er]

Reminder to other nonbinary peeps that we are valid.