I did a very quick, sketchy comic because I was extremely inspired by this post. (Credit to @pinkdiamondprince for the original post.)
The entire analogy was just fantastic and so, so accurate, and I wanted to make a comic for it, even if it’s very sketchy because my attention span is nil.
Yesterday was a long, painful day in a lot of ways. It was also a Wednesday, which means it was queer board game night at my local library. It was family night, which usually has less young adults even though everyone is welcome. I wasn't sure if *anyone* from my community would show up.
We live in a red southern state. I've been harrassed in this very town. I stood in front of my mirror for a long time debating whether I should wear conservative man passing clothes (camo shirt, trucker hat, work boots). I ended up wearing a bold neon pride shirt. Fuck 'em, right?
I left early and I was one of the first people to arrive. The host said they didn't think anyone would show up. While we caught up, a man in a MAGA hat shuffled into the lobby across from us with a big walking stick. I kept my eye on him and prepared myself to jump in front of the doorway and de-escalate a situation. He sat down, and went through his stuff, and as I looked I realized he was probably homeless—our library is a safe haven for all kinds, thankfully. He was a member of my community. He might be wearing that hat out of fear, just like I'd considered dressing conservatively earlier. Or he might be an active Trump supporter. Either way, he's a member of my community and he was obviously leaving us alone. I relaxed minutely.
And then...people started trickling in. Many were my friends. Some were new faces. Someone brought a big bowl of leftover halloween candy and the mood skyrocketed. I played monopoly with a 9-year old kid, a member of the military, and a witch. It was a blast. Honestly it was one of the busiest game nights I've been at in a while, and family days are usually almost empty.
Afterward a group of us wanted to keep hanging out so we went to taco bell and then a park to chat and laugh and show off pocket knives and carabiners. At the taco bell, though, I noticed a trio of youths come in with colorful hair and bodies full of that tight apprehension I'd been feeling all day. One of them saw me and lit up and gave that sweet, familiar "I love your shirt!" I hope it made people feel safer. Reminded them we're still here and we're not giving up an inch of ground. We're not alone. You're not alone, I promise.
It was a long day, and a good night.
Get all your vaccines
Travel while we have a functioning DOT
Read and buy books on feminism, anti-racism, pro-lgbt
Attend drag shows
Don't skip any of your classes
Read and buy history books
Find your out-of-state networks
Learn to carry cash
Get birth control solutions
Support the Biden/Harris administration
Postpone large purchases and save money
Be careful of what you say online, like un-ambiguous attacks against the incoming administration, especially in spaces that contain your full name or personal information
Feel free to add on.
Sazed: hello, I am secretly part of a tradition that our theocratic despot has gone to great lengths over the past thousand years to completely annihilate. I'd like to talk to you about our lord and savior, Literally Anyone Else
reblog to give the person you reblogged it from a dinosaur (please please pleaseeee i want dinos and you deserve some too)