Happy Purim!
This is coming out early again this week because, holy cannoli, this is already almost at the email length limit. This might have to come out more often?
Happy Purim!
Purim recalls the story of how Esther saved the Jewish people and defeated Haman, who was pushing the king to commit genocide.
Also, Hamantaschen are the best cookies. I like to use filling like pumpkin butter, sweet potato butter, etc.
32 Years Since the Capitol Crawl
If you’re unfamiliar with the Capitol Crawl, it’s an event from 1990 that helped get the ADA passed. A large contingent of disability activists literally crawled up the Capitol steps to show how inaccessible even government was for us.
I wrote a poem about it. You can read the full poem here, but here’s a taste:
32 years ago, another pandemic raged on as the powers that were ignored science and helping development decent treatments because of who was hit the hardest. My queer and trans siblings were engaged in ACTUP protests and demonstrations, and they continue to have to do so.
Anti-Trans BS
We Trans People Will Never Surrender, but Fighting Bigots Is Exhausting by Dawn Ennis:
I am concentrating on the last tweet I saw before suspending my account, from the ACLU’s Chase Strangio. We cannot give up, he pleaded, recommending “We fight better.”
We will. I will. But not today, for I am exhausted. I can only hope that one of my many cisgender allies sees this and decides to stand in for me, just until I get back in the fight. All we’re fighting for is something called the 14th Amendment to the Constitution: equal protection under the law. And we will never surrender.
“We Will Persist and Prove You Wrong:" A Trans Texan's Words For Governor Abbott by August Huerta:
Something you should know about trans people is that we are immovable, stubborn, and yet patient… The lives of trans children are threatened because you can’t imagine that people with a different world view are capable of love and rationality.
I persisted because I honored my own humanity. I let myself be when others would not. That is real power. It is simple, gentle, even passive power, and very much unlike what money and control look like to you. Over the years, my family came to use the name I chose for myself. What changed them? I did. There was no kind of reasoning or debating that would have convinced them to accept me. It was me, simply me, that was an undeniable testament to my worth.
I only hope that spaces that are supposed to advocate for us, like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), fight for us and dismiss folks like Laura Edwards-Leeper who supports conversion therapy and uses the term ‘trans rights activists’ (TRA) unironically.
Anyway, here are some more things to read:
Texas Ordered to Stop Investigating Parents of Trans Youth — For Now by James Factora and Cáne López
Here’s All the Anti-Trans Legislation That Moved Forward This Week by Samantha Riedel
Trans Oklahomans File Lawsuit to Block an Anti-Trans Birth Certificate Policy by James Factora
Black, Latino queer students say they are on edge in the wake of 'Don't Say Gay' bill by Tat Bellamy-Walker
What we mean when we say “Support Transgender Youth” by Ren Peir with Jessica Halem
And here’s a thread on what it’s like being trans right now:
A Brief Palate Cleanser
I’m very excited about this movie.
I do have some mixed feelings knowing that Cage tried to share how he isn’t this caricature-like version of him that is written into the film. I only hope that people make space for Cage to be who he really is versus this version.
Events
The inaugural Autoimmune Health Equity Summit had to be postponed due to tech issues. It will now take place on March 19th, 2022, at 12 pm Pacific Time (3 pm Eastern Time). Register here
FTM Newsletter Panel - Tues March 29 from 1:30-2:30 pm Pacific/4:30-5:30 pm Eastern - Register here
The Chair in Transgender Studies, Aaron Devor, in conversation with a former leader, contributors, and readers of FTM Newsletter. In celebration of the Transgender Archives digitizing all 67 issues (1987-2008) of FTM Newsletter. Now online and available free of charge. View FTM Newsletter online.
Research Opportunities
Vaccine Hesitancy in Autoimmune Folks
The current COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by the search for and administration of vaccines. However, many individuals express hesitancy towards getting vaccinated as a result of medical or personal reasons.
Participate here
Quality of Life with Autoimmune Disease
Folks with autoimmune conditions are invited to participate in this 15-minute-ish research survey on quality of life with autoimmune conditions.
Participate here
Support
The National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network have opened the applications to their Mental Health Fund. If you are a BIPOC person in the US, they can provide financial support for up to 6 sessions with a psychotherapist. Applicants can request up to $100 per session.
Articles You Need to Read This Week
COVID-19
Experts Say It's Too Soon to End the COVID State of Emergency by Carla Delgado
CDC confirms uptick in Covid virus found in wastewater by Erika Edwards and Corky Siemaszko
Here’s Why Pandemic Fatigue Is (Still) So Draining by Jessica A. Gold
How COVID Has Impacted Chronic Disease by Steven Ross Johnson
Lasting depression and anxiety can follow severe case of Covid by Erika Edwards
Covid almost killed her. As others’ lives return to normal, she wonders: Will hers? by Elizabeth Chuck
Long Covid patients, in search of relief, turn to private company by Erika Edwards - the tldr? Don’t trust IncellDx
Where is the “Public” in American Public Health? Moving from individual responsibility to collective action by Cecilia Tomori, Dabney P. Evans, Aziza Ahmed, Aparna Nair, and Benjamin Mason Meier
Race & Culture
19-year-old Dakota Language Keeper Akiša Peters Is Committed to His Community by Victor Anthony Lopez-Carmen
Gaslighting of Black medical trainees makes residency something to ‘survive’ by Shenelle Wilson
Black business ownership is higher than pre-pandemic. Women are driving that growth by Jasmine Garsd
How Evidence is shaping the conversation around cannabis and justice by Hannah Meadows
Health, Healthcare, and Disability
Millions of vulnerable Americans likely to fall off Medicaid once the federal public health emergency ends by Amy Goldstein
Health care providers in North Carolina demand better patient support as they attempt to unionize by Tina Vásquez
Novel Malaria Treatment for Children Receives First Approval by Apoorva Mandavilli
Amazon Pharmacy partners with health plans for discount drugs by Nicole Wetsman
Widespread screening catches more cases of depression. But follow-up care still falls far short by Tino Delamerced
‘It’s not medical’: Oregon wrestles with how to offer psychedelics outside the health care system by Olivia Goldhill
This family carried a rare mutation that should have been lethal. What was keeping them alive? by Eric Boodman
AI-produced images can’t fix diversity issues in dermatology databases by Nicole Wetsman
Vaccine Hesitancy Has Seeped Into Home Health Care by Marion Renault
Covid is making more people disabled and exposing America's tattered safety net by Eric Garcia
Patchwork system for rationing a Covid drug sends immunocompromised patients on a ‘Hunger Games hunt’ by Eric Boodman
How VR Meditation Helped Me *Actually* Shut Out Distractions by Anna Samson
Disability and Film Festivals: The Secret and the Not-So-Secret Complacencies by Reid Davenport
I'm A Porn Performer Living With HIV. Here's What Needs To Change In My Industry — And Beyond. by Vanniall
Ukraine
The War In Ukraine Exposes How Addicted The World Is To Fossil Fuels by Zahra Hirji and Dan Vergano
LGBTQ+
How I Navigate Sex as a Bisexual Woman With Vaginismus by Ashley Broadwater
What Queer People With Cervixes Need To Know About Cervical Cancer Prevention by Madeline Montgomery
A Report Has Called For An Urgent Overhaul Of Healthcare For Trans Youth (UK) by Bustle UK
Transgender People Tell Their Abortion Stories in Trans Bodies, Trans Choices by Brittney McNamara - Content Note: This story contains mention of sexual assault and suicidal ideation.
Kae Tempest: ‘I was living with this boiling hot secret in my heart’ by Michael Segalov
The Forgotten LGBTQ+ Minority by Jason Reid
Hormone Replacement Therapy & Racial Health Disparities by Folx Health
Jonah, God and Other Strangers: Reading the Torah from a Trans perspective (video)
touch change: what I learned at the trans archives (video)
Sex
The Photo Series Where Kink Meets Cooking by Djanlissa Pringels
Politics, Abolition, Capitalism, Death, and Religion
Police Believe Deadly Attacks On Homeless People In DC And NYC May Be Connected by David Mack
Very Online: How Gullibility Became Our New Normal by Jenna Mahale
Congress overrides DC voters, keeps sales of marijuana illegal in District by Karl Evers-Hillstrom and Aris Folley
The US Tried Permanent Daylight Saving Time in the ’70s. People Hated It by Andrew Beaujon
Texas Plans To Execute a Mom for Killing Her 2-Year-Old, but the Case Has Numerous Problems by Lenore Skenazy
Here’s more on this case from John Oliver:
Okay, One More Palate Cleanser
I do one million percent agree with this, though:
Thanks for reading! If you have feedback or anything you’d like to share, feel free to reach out to me on social media or email (all linked here).
Until next time,
Grayson