SF Declared Victory vs MPX, and Elon's Homophobic Conspiracy
#147
Welcome to Third Cultured, a newsletter about Queer people in diplomacy, politics, and war from the perspective of Kyle Borland (he/they). My goal is to highlight all the ways today is different (and not so) from yesterday.
Third Cultured is available to all, but please consider becoming a paid subscriber in order to comment on articles and enjoy other community benefits.
This edition:
Opinion Essay
A List of LGBTQ+ Wins
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws/Violence Around the World
Links, Quotes & Gay Shit
Opinion Essay
Here in San Francisco, LGBTQ+ History Month ended on a high note.
The City announced the end of its Monkeypox emergency declaration yesterday in front of Zuckerberg SF General Hospital. California LGBTQ+ community leaders gathered to comment on the success of SF’s nearly three-month-long declaration, which helped lower case counts to fewer than one per day. Despite the end of the declaration, the speakers stressed: “that we continue the work to end infections, reduce disparities in Latino and Black communities, and provide ongoing support for those affected by the virus.” (Note: I’m going to follow their lead and stop tracking MPX news as closely, so I won’t be continuing the “Monkeypox and Gay/Bi Men’s Public Health” section in every edition going forward.)
After the public failures of COVID, I am proud of the quick progress Queer men across the country have made in such a short time. It renewed some of my belief in the systems we built during past pandemics and, of course, Queer men’s particular ability to adapt stems from the collective lessons of HIV/AIDS. The community rallied together, turning every community event and space into a chance for access and information, and we implemented the solutions we know are effective. It’d be easier if our entire society was capable of working so well together, but it is empowering to see the Queer community come together to stop this disease in its tracks within months.
The acknowledgment was a welcome celebration after what seemed like a never-ending bombardment from the far right over the weekend. The far right never misses a chance to blame an event on Queer people, and a homophobic conspiracy about the assassination attempt on Nancy Pelosi was no exception. To make a bad situation worse, Elon Musk – the richest man in the world and the new owner of Twitter – amplified the conspiracy to hundreds of millions of people in a since-deleted reply to Hillary Clinton. (Similar to his recent alignment with Putin, there was little difference between him and the typical Republican reaction.)
It shouldn’t take much explanation to understand why it’s dangerous and frightening for the new owner of the most powerful communications platform on Earth to gleefully promote misinformation. Especially when combined with the rampant book bans and the rise of unabashed antisemitism, the levels of political violence and intimidation we’re seeing are leading us in a bloody direction. It’s impossible not to see the parallels between historical examples of fascist regimes and our current political climate.
I feel secure in California most days, and some days even optimistic with the progress we’re able to make. For example, next week we have the chance to be the first state to elect enough LGBTQ+ officials to the state offices to make up 10 percent of the state legislature (12 of 120). That kind of representation is a true accomplishment and the kind of win that leads to ultimate victory.
However, we have to use those kinds of wins to build fortresses that can withstand what is to come and can absorb the LGBTQ+ refugees this decade will create with a vengeance. There is plenty of work to be done and infrastructure to be built to meet the moment, but if any community can pull it off – it’s ours.
Stay safe and healthy, beautiful people.
As always, thanks for reading.
Kyle (@kgborland)
A List of LGBTQ+ Wins
10 LGBTQ candidates could make political history in November (NBC News)
2022 has seen 681 book ban attempts and 1,651 unique titles targeted, but Queer authors are fighting back (Rainbow Book Bus)
A New Study Shows Conservative Fears of “Transition Regret” Are Overblown (them)
Angry mom goes viral after giving an anti-LGBTQ commissioner hell during a public meeting (LGBTQ Nation)
First congressional race between two gay nominees marks progress for LGBTQ candidates (USA Today)
How to be queer in the Arab world (Apollo Magazine)
I am the founder of LGBTQ History Month. Now I’m working to spread it across the world. (LGBTQ Nation)
Ireland is making transgender people a protected class in hate crimes law (LGBTQ Nation)
LGBT football fans fight for safe space in Brazil stadiums (France24)
National LGBTQ Task Force prepares for 50th anniversary (Dallas Voice)
‘Parent’s Rights’ Platforms Didn’t Sway Voters: Most anti-SOGI school board candidates lost and a trans trustee was elected in a historic first. (The Tyee)
Report projects major growth in LGBTQ voters in coming decades (Politico)
Same-Sex Marriage Is Now Legal in All of Mexico (them)
Saying Goodbye to My Chest (Esquire)
Site of SF's Compton's Cafeteria riots nominated for national historic register (Bay Area Reporter)
Taiwan holds first LGBTQ Pride march in two years (France24)
The Miss Universe Pageant Is Now Owned by a Trans Thai Businesswoman (them)
This Group Might Save Your LGBTQ Kid’s Life (WashPost)
Thousands attend LGBTQ rally in Prague after Slovakia shooting (euronews)
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws/Violence Around the World
County bans all volleyball games with school because a trans student is on their team (LGBTQ Nation)
Fascist Proud Boys turn to violence against LGBTQ allies at drag queen event (LGBTQ Nation)
Florida Puts Raging MAGA Moms on Book-Banning Council (Daily Beast)
Gay man forced to move from Cornwall after ‘horrific’ homophobic attack: ‘I don’t feel safe’ (Pink News)
Gay Men Banned From Donating Sperm and FDA Has No Plans to Change Policy (Plus)
GOP airs ad with hate pastor who called LGBTQ people “child molesters” (LGBTQ Nation)
Idaho drag performers mobilize as right-wing forces target their shows (WashPost)
In Saudi Arabia, being an openly LGBT influencer can land you in prison (France24)
Judge rules CA Christian baker was allowed to refuse to sell cake to lesbian couple (LGBTQ Nation)
LGBT Fans to Boycott World Cup in Qatar Over Country's Stance on the Community (Bloomberg)
Malaysia: Religious police raid LGBT Halloween party (DW)
Man posts video saying he wants to kill gay people before trying to run over two women (LGBTQ Nation)
Mike Pence says the Constitution doesn’t guarantee Americans “freedom from religion” (LGBTQ Nation)
Nearly half of Japan's LGBTQ teens have considered suicide (Japan Times)
Neo-Nazis in Florida forced Halloween Drag Queen Story Hour to cancel with threats (AP)
Powerful pastor Robert Jeffress says conservative Christians should “impose their values on society” (LGBTQ Nation)
Qatar arrests, abuses LGBT people, new pre-World Cup report says (OutSports)
Religious right is now targeting sexless marriages as “selfishness.” They want to ban those too (LGBTQ Nation)
Report: Anti-trans violence doubled between 2017 and 2021 (Windy City Times)
Rishi Sunak: Where the UK’s new Prime Minister stands on LGBTQ+ rights (Gay Times, Pink News)
Russian court rejects Brittney Griner's appeal, sends her to penal colony (Axios)
Russian lawmakers give early approval for ban on LGBTQ 'propaganda' for all adults (euronews)
Slovakian Parliament rejects same-sex registration for couples (LA Blade)
The race to silence LGBTQ+ voices (LA Blade)
Years of LGBT Intolerance in Slovakia Culminate in Two Killings (Balkans Insight)
Links, Quotes & Gay Shit
An Ode to Leslie Jordan (Werk-In-Progress)
I heard the victory of escape in the lilt of your voice. You savored every word, every pause, and god, I loved you for it. A child doesn’t have to understand science to know that sunlight feels right, good, and necessary. A gay southern boy with a body brimming with the laughter you’ve so kindly gifted him just then doesn’t need someone to explain why the laughter is saving his life.
Ghost hunting in America’s oldest gay bar (LGBTQ Nation)
Greek Mythology as an Allegory for Gay Dating (Hyperallergic)
I’m Bleaching My Hair Blonde And Yes, I Might Be Having A Gay Crisis (BuzzFeed News)
John Waters talks ‘Hairspray,’ Johnny Depp, cancel culture (AL.com)
Learning From the “Bad Gays” of History (The Nation)
Queer Lives Are Not Side Quests (Public Books)
The anxieties of growing old when you’re LGBTQ (Washington Post)
The artist mixing Greek antiquity with contemporary queer culture (i-D)
The messy, thrilling queer allegory in Interview with the Vampire (Vox)
What Ghost Stories Taught Me About My Queer Self (New Yorker)