We Will Win Because 6-in-10 Americans Oppose Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
#123
Welcome to Third Cultured, a newsletter covering all things queer and techno-politics from the perspective of Kyle Borland. My goal is to highlight all the ways today is different (and not so) from yesterday.
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This edition:
App Announcement
Essay/Opinion
Queer People and Putin’s War in Ukraine
App Announcement
I have exciting news to share: You can now read Third Cultured in the new Substack app for iPhone.
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The Substack app is currently available for iOS. If you don’t have an Apple device, you can join the Android waitlist here.
Essay/Opinion
I wish I had more personal commentary for y’all after a couple of weeks of silence, but I do not. Luckily, I’ve been busy at work and have made a point of getting out of the City, so I haven’t had too much time to fret about everything going on. I still occasionally spiral when I start thinking about how we failed the kids for a little too long, but defeat doesn’t help them. They need money and the LGBTQ+ community’s most powerful resources – media attention and never-ending supply of Queer lawyers.
I’ve included updates from Alabama, Florida, Texas, and the other 20+ states attacking Queer kids and adults with 150+ anti-LGBTQ+ laws. People in red states are living through fully-fledged Christian Fascism. We will push back, and we will win. It will be a slog for the next 10 years because the traditionalists found cracks while we were complacent in victory.
We will win because 6-in-10 Americans oppose these laws. The zealots know they are a vocal and organized minority that gets smaller every day. The cishet majority would like to pretend progress occurs and remains, but the unfortunate reality is that marginalized communities can never let our foot off the gas because the Christian Fascists are relentless. Maybe if the weight of the Center was ever used against the Right before it reached this point, we wouldn’t have to relive this perpetual cycle, but the only thing the Center likes more than rolling their eyes at the Left is doing nothing at all.
For now, Queer people will have to remain organized and vigilant for ourselves. This is why LGBTQ+ representation is so important. No ally, no matter how well-meaning, will ever prioritize us and our material realities. Only we will ever do that.
On that note, Reckon provided a great list of resources for how to help out Queer southerners facing the brunt of the Christian Fascist terror:
So what can you do?
Put your money where your mouth is. Donate to local community organizers who directly support trans and LGBTQ+ folks. Here’s a list of some of those organizations across the South:Florida: Prism, Bridges 4 Life
Georgia: Georgia Equality, Lost and Found Youth
South Carolina: We Are Family, Harriet Hancock Center
North Carolina: National Center for Transgender Equality, Tranzmission
Kentucky: TransKentucky
Tennessee: Tennessee Vals
And don’t forget, you have a voice! First, find the anti-trans or anti-lgbtq legislation in your state here. Then, click here to find your local state legislator representing your district. Then give them a call.
Alabama
Alabama May Pass the Most Aggressive Anti-Transgender Bill Yet (GLAAD)
AL – Trans Alabamians Are Under Attack. Here’s How You Can Help (them.)
Florida
Disney’s “Don’t Say Gay” stance wasn’t the first time it betrayed its LGBTQ fans (Discourse Blog, Popular Information, Vox, The Verge)
Florida’s bill restricting LGBTQ discussion will hurt all children, LGBTQ and straight (Washington Post)
Florida and Texas governors face business backlash over anti-LGBTQ moves (CBS News)
The Biden administration meets with Florida LGBTQ students over 'Don't Say Gay' bill (NBC News)
What Do You Wish Lawmakers Knew About How Anti-L.G.B.T.Q. Legislation Affects Teenagers? (New York Times)
What’s next for Florida’s high school activists after bill restricting LGBTQ topics in elementary schools (Washington Post)
Texas
A Texas Family is Suing Governor Greg Abbott Over His Anti-Trans Order (Houston Chronicle, them.)
Austin companies Dell, Whole Food, and Indeed pass on letter denouncing Abbott transgender order (Axios)
Call Texas’ Anti-Trans Crusade What It Is: Family Separation (Discourse Blog)
Dreading the knock at the door: Parents of trans kids in Texas are terrified for their families (Washington Post)
ICYMI: Everything From Today’s Hogwarts Legacy State of Play (fanbyte)
Most Texans would agree that the future is really f*cking queer (LGBTQ Nation)
Other States
Arizona’s Anti-Trans Bills Meet Resistance Among Republicans (them.)
As anti-trans bills sweep the nation, the country’s largest trans rights org fights to rebuild (The 19th)
For Too Many Straight, Cisgender Parents, Queer Is Their Worst Fear (Advocate)
Georgia Senate introduced "Don't Say Gay" bill (Axios)
Idaho passes bill that would send loving parents of trans kids to prison for life (LGBTQ Nation)
The Evangelical Persecution Complex (Genderf*ucked)
The Narrative on Trans Rights Is Being Shaped by Right-Wing Media (Teen Vogue)
From the activists and legal experts fighting on the front line to the legislators here in California creating a physical and financial refuge from Red State terror – our community is rallying its resources and even the most brainwashed of the far-right knows they can’t stop us when we fight back together. Like Russia was reminded three weeks ago about the United States – we have more friends.
As always, thanks for reading, beautiful people.
Kyle (@kgborland)
Queer People and Putin’s War in Ukraine
A Gay Dating App is Helping to House Queer People Fleeing Ukraine (them.)
Brittney Griner is a Black queer woman. Here’s why we can’t ignore intersectionality in Russia’s targeted detainment of her (The Grio)
Catholic archbishop accuses Ukraine president of promoting “LGBTQ ideology” (LGBTQ Nation)
LGBTQ refugees fleeing Ukraine face discrimination in countries with anti-gay laws (NPR)
“People Are Not Coming Back to the Closet”: The Fight for Ukraine Is Also a Fight for LGBTQ Rights (Vanity Fair)
"Relatively Civilized, Relatively European": Media Bias Infects Coverage of Ukraine War (The Flashpoint)
Russian Orthodox Church Leader Blames Invasion on Ukraine's 'Gay Pride' (Newsweek)
So, Just Making Sure That We Agree: It's OK To Seize Oligarchs' Stuff Now (Forever Wars)
Standing with Ukraine’s LGBTQI+ Community and Other Vulnerable Groups as Conflict Escalates (Global Equality)
They Called Ukraine Home. But They Faced Violence and Racism When They Tried to Flee (TIME)
The Urgency of the LGBTQI Refugee Crisis (Global Equality)
Trans People Stranded and Alone in Ukraine Following Russia’s Invasion (Vice)
Ukraine LGBTQ activist flees Kyiv (Washington Blade)
Ukrainian LGBTQ activists fought & captured a group of Russian soldiers (LGBTQ Nation)
Ukraine LGBTQ+ community in fear after Russian assault (Gay Times)
Ukrainian LGBTQ Soldiers Fight Against “Darkness” Of Russian Invasion (Forbes)
Ukrainian queer teen explains why he won’t flee despite terrifying war: ‘I want to be free’ (Pink News)
