this this this, because right now more than ever what we really need is to band together in as many numbers as possible and stand against the stupid onslaught of hate.
hating on people on the basis of gender identity and/or sexuality is the weapon of those hating on the queer community and I refuse to use it.
cishets are not inherently our enemies. I want a world where we all coexist in peace and loving support. and I want it to go both ways.
As some of you may have seen on the news, our city has been occupied by federal ICE agents for many weeks now; estimates hover around 3,000+ ICE agents. Agents have been waging a 24/7 campaign of terror against Minnesota communities, with a major emphasis on Minneapolis. They have committed mass abductions of our BIPOC and immigrant neighbors; they have subjected women and trans community members to gender-based violence; they have murdered two Minneapolis residents. They have detained children as young as 2 years old. Toddlers. They used a 5-year-old child as bait to lure his family from his home to be detained.
Whatever you think it's like in Minnesota right now from wherever you live, it's worse. It's far worse than you're imagining.
On January 7, ICE agents murdered Renee Nicole Good, 37, a queer woman, poet, mother, and wife. They shot her 4 times as she tried to drive away from them. They refused offers from observers to provide her medical care. As she lay dying, a male ICE agent called her a f-cking b-tch.
Today, on January 24, they murdered Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse. Several agents - at least 7 - beat Alex repeatedly in the head, tear gassed him, restrained him, and repeatedly shot him at point blank range. Before they murdered him, Alex had stepped in to help a woman whom the agents pushed to the ground.
If you do not live in Minnesota, Stand with Minnesota is a very helpful website filled with places to donate, mutual aid information, scripts for contacting your elected officials, calls to action, and more.
Please help us. https://www.standwithminnesota.com/
Please do not read this and turn away. Please share this with anyone and everyone you know.
And if you support ICE, unfollow me. You are not welcome on my page, ever.
I’ve watched all of the videos dozens of times - here’s what happened.
A 37-year-old ICU nurse named Alex Pretti helped a woman that federal agents had shoved. For this crime - helping someone - several agents sprayed pepper spray into his face - then they beat him until he collapsed. They pistol whipped him while he was on his knees. Both hands on the ground. Not resisting. Just existing.
They took his gun from his back waistband - he never touched it - but he had a legal permit to carry. The Second Amendment one. The constitutional right one.
And then they shot him.
After he was already down, already gone, they shot him nine more times. Nine. I want you to picture that. A man on the ground, motionless, and nine more bullets.
This is the same government that told us he was a “criminal illegal alien with a string of violent offenses.” He was an American citizen. He was a nurse who worked in the ICU at the VA - the guy who takes care of your grandfather who served in Vietnam, your uncle who came back from Iraq. His criminal record was traffic tickets.
They lied. They executed him in broad daylight on an American street. And then they lied about who he was to make you feel okay about it.
This is the third shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in three weeks. Three weeks. Three people. One was a woman named Renée Good. One was a Venezuelan man shot in the leg. And now Alex Pretti, American citizen, legal gun owner, VA nurse who spent his days caring for veterans, dead on the pavement at 26th and Nicollet because he tried to help someone.
The same government that wraps itself in “support our troops” shot the guy who actually supported our troops. Nine times. While he was on the ground.
That’s the truth - don’t believe any of the Trump Admin’s lies about what happened.
A reminder to the "the American government wouldn't..." crowd. They have. They have made their own internment camps before. They have rounded up innocent citizens and immigrants before. The victims of which are still alive to this day and trying to share their stories with the world, they have been trying to warn us for a long time.
George Takei (as seen above) is a famous example of this. He has written about his experiences time and time again, even publishing a book talking about his time in these camps. He may be famous now, but at the time he was just another kid forced from his home. To this day he still firmly dedicates himself to trying to educate and inform people, trying to spread awareness with his platform.
The American Government can and will do terrible things. Do not let anyone convince you otherwise.
For Traitor: neck retraction exercise. While lying in bed with your head flat against the mattress, give yourself the biggest double chin you can. Repeat 10 times.
For Jackass: stop hiking your shoulders up to your ears. This is pretty much a stress thing, it’s human instinct to protect our neck when we’re under stress so that predators can’t get at it. Easiest way to do that is be elevating the shoulders, so. Periodically take not of where your shoulders are at.
Absolute Fuckwaffle: stretch out your chest. The rhomboids on the back work to keep our shoulder blades back, so when we’re hunched forward they are constantly straining to do their job. Unfortunately it’s not as simple as telling you to stand up straight, since our pectorals get chronically tight and prevent us from doing so. Step one: pectoral stretches. Hold for at least 20 seconds.
Asshole: Superman exercises. Like the rhomboids, the ESGs are straining against the slump. Stretching the chest will help them, too, but then you e got to strengthen your back. Do 20 of those per day.
Guys, it got so much freaking worse. KOSA is bad, but SCREEN is even worse, somehow.
Text for S.737 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): SCREEN Act
"Sen. Mike Lee has introduced the SCREEN ACT, a bill that applies the "harmful to minors" standard used to ban LGBTQ+ books and resources in schools and libraries and apply it nationally to the internet.
Any site that has any amount of material "harmful to minors" would be forced to employ surveillance tech (biometric scans, ID uploads, background checks) to prevent minors from accessing "pornography."
You will not be surprised to learn that this is backed by the Heritage Foundation.
Unlike some of the state age-verification laws, many of which are being challenged in court, SC will be enforced by the FTC, which has the ability to levy fines, raid business and freeze bank accounts. Yes, meaning that even non-for-profits like Ao3 will suffer.
This is something for all US users to keep on their radar. Call your reps, call your senators, and spread the word to protect our archive!"
- When talking with Republicans play up the fact that this would force Elon to implement age verification systems on X (yes do call it X during the call). Elon's been threatening to primary Republicans who stand in his way so there's fear of him. Also play up concerns about "Liberals" doxxing people or Chinese hackers.
- When talking with Democrats, play up the connections to Project 2025 and suggest voters will not be happy to see Democrats siding with it.
Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia - Phone: (202) 224-6472
Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming - Phone: (202) 224-3424
Democrats:
Maria Cantwell, Washington (Ranking Member) - Phone: (202) 224-3441
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota - Phone: (202) 224-3244
Brian Schatz, Hawaii - Phone: (202) 224-3934
Ed Markey, Massachusetts - Phone: (202) 224-2742
Gary Peters, Michigan - Phone: (202) 224-6221
Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin - Phone: (202) 224-5653
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois - Phone: (202) 224-2854
Jacky Rosen, Nevada - Phone: (202) 224-6244
Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico - Phone: (202) 224-6621
John Hickenlooper, Colorado - Phone: (202) 224-5941
John Fetterman, Pennsylvania - Phone: (202) 224-4254
Andy Kim, New Jersey - Phone: (202) 224-4744
Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware - Phone: (202) 224-2441
SCRIPT
Hi, my name is [], and I am one of Senator []’s constituents. I live in [city, zip code - leave your full address if leaving a voicemail].
I am calling in regards to a bill that was recently introduced in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transport: the SCREEN act.
I am asking Senator [] to either take no action or vote against this bill because of its implications for freedom of speech. [insert one of the other concerns listed above]. Thank you for your time and for listening to my concerns.
Boyfriend material never had a bad track. Enemies to lovers? slaps. Fake dating? a banger. 'You remain the thing I have most chosen for myself. The thing that’s most exclusively mine, the one that brings me the deepest joy' has me sobbing shaking crying on the floor every t i m e.
“Is that a wedding ring? Were you married?” the way she said it sounded almost offended, and Levi couldn’t help but snort, halting Falco’s admonishment in its tracks.
“Is that so hard to believe? That someone wanted to marry me?”
Gabi’s eyes widened, finally realising the social faux pas she had merrily launched herself into, and raised her hands up in front of her, fingers spread.
“Uh, no! Of course not! I mean-” Falco nudged her shoulder, and she fell silent. It took real effort to hold back the huff of laughter tickling the base of his throat.
“No,” he said after a brief, uncomfortable pause, his good eye fixed to the dulled gold. “I wasn’t married. But someone did want to marry me.”
The kids exchanged a very unsubtle look before turning back to him.
