New poem here. Right now, I think I write better about political shit in poetry form than I do in blog posts. Because in poetry, I can stay sharp and on target with what I want to say. So, here’s my advice in today’s God awful times:
Get Loud and Stay Loud
Poem – Get Loud and Stay Loud – pdfDownload
World AIDS Day — December 1
Today we honor the lives lost, the survivors who continue to fight, and the generations of activists, caregivers, artists, and organizers who transformed grief into power. World AIDS Day is a reminder of the profound resilience of our community—and of the urgent work that remains.
We remember the friends, lovers, mentors, and chosen family members taken too soon. We celebrate the progress made through activism and science, from ACT UP’s bold demands to the ongoing fight for global access to treatment and prevention. And we acknowledge the inequities that persist, especially for queer people, trans communities, people of color, and those without access to care.
World AIDS Day is not only a day of remembrance—it is a promise. A promise to continue telling the stories. To support those living with HIV. To fight stigma wherever it appears. To push for a world in which healthcare is a right, and no one is left behind.
Honor the past. Stand with the present. Fight for the future.
On this day in queer history: September 14, 1989
ACT UP organized a dramatic protest at the New York Stock Exchange against the pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome.
Over 350 activists gathered at noon, demanding a price reduction for AZT, the first drug approved to treat HIV/AIDS. At the time, the medication was priced far beyond the reach of most people living with HIV, effectively making survival a privilege of wealth.
The protest was part of a coordinated international action, with demonstrations in San Francisco and London. Just four days later, Burroughs Wellcome bowed to the pressure, lowering AZT’s price by 20 percent — a testament to the power of collective action.
HIV/AIDS Activists stacked more than 200 coffins in front of the State Department Thursday April 17, 2025 to protest the devastation of global HIV-fighting programs by Donald Trump’s administration.
Activists stack coffins in front of State Department to protest PEPFAR cuts (in photos)
Due to PEPFAR funding cuts 20million people globally will lose access to HIV treatment (220,000 people per day including 7000 children/day). PEPFAR also supports >90% of global PrEP treatments. Some estimates put deaths due to the funding cuts will be at 100,000 or more from AIDS related causes in the first 3months following funding cancellation.
If PEPFAR funding cuts are not reversed an estimated 8.7 million preventable new infections will occur by 2029, and result in 6.3 million AIDS deaths, and 3.4million AIDS orphans.
The 2024 GLAAD Media Awards East Coast ceremony in Manhattan was a night of unexpected moments. While Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence provided comedic highlights with her award presentation, a drag artist staged a protest challenging the organization’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
GLAAD Gala Protest
Jennifer Lawrence’s Surprise Jab at Mike Pence
As a presenter for the Vito Russo Award, Lawrence aimed former Vice President Mike Pence, known for his conservative views on LGBTQ+ rights. Her deadpan humor elicited laughter from the audience.
A Shot at Conversion Therapy: Lawrence referenced her “first love” who was gay, stating she “tried to convert him for years.” She concluded with a pointed remark, “Conversion therapy isn’t real—even though I know you think it worked on you,” referencing Pence’s past association with the practice.
A Touch of Mockery: Adding a playful jab, Lawrence jokingly mentioned Pence receiving a “Kids Choice Award for weird dick,” further amplifying the lighthearted yet pointed commentary.
A Disruptive Voice: Drag Artist Protests Inside Ceremony
While Lawrence’s humor dominated the early part of the evening, a more serious moment unfolded later.
Breaking Through Security: Chiquitita, a transgender drag artist, managed to enter the ceremony alongside fellow activist DiDi Opulence. They were part of a larger protest organized by ACT UP outside the venue criticizing GLAAD’s ties to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and perceived silence regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“GLAAD is Complicit in Genocide”: Chiquitita disrupted the ceremony by repeatedly chanting this slogan, drawing attention to the Palestinian cause. The startled audience witnessed the unfolding scene.
“Free Speech in America”: Host Ross Mathews acknowledged the disruption, reminding the crowd of the right to free speech. While Chiquitita found this response patronizing, she also acknowledged its importance.
A Complex Issue and Differing Viewpoints
The protest highlights the complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on LGBTQ+ communities:
Criticisms Against GLAAD: Chiquitita’s action stemmed from a disagreement with GLAAD’s perceived lack of action regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some critics believe GLAAD’s partnership with the ADL, known for its support of Israel, creates a conflict of interest.
Highlighting Intersectionality: Chiquitita’s protest aimed to raise awareness of the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ rights and international human rights issues.
A Night of Reflection
The contrasting moments at the GLAAD Media Awards offer a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities facing the LGBTQ+ community.
Humor Can Break Barriers: Lawrence’s comedic approach utilized humor to address the serious issue of conversion therapy.
The Power of Protest: Chiquitita’s act of protest, while disruptive, brought attention to a critical human rights concern.
Moving Forward: The events at the GLAAD Media Awards highlight the need for ongoing dialogue and the importance of diverse perspectives within the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Trans activists have organized demonstrations at capitol buildings across the country and are currently coordinating protests for Trans Day of Visibility on March 31 and Trans Day of Vengeance on April 1.
Activists have planned rallies at the state capitol of Georgia, which recently became the 10th state to ban gender-affirming care; Tucson, Arizona; the Missouri state capitol; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; New York City; and the Kansas state capitol, among others.
“We are here and we will not allow ourselves to be erased,” Trans Radical Activist Network.
Nothing Happens Without Us is a great documentary on how women became involved in the HIV/AIDS crisis many years ago and helped to save the lives of so many gay men. There is not a day that passes that I don’t give thanks to strong women and their fight to keep me and so many of my friends alive.🥰
@temmiechang @fwugradiation own Undertale and Deltarune
Also @lynxgriffin cause they might find the idea interesting.
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ROOK: “you got no choice but to stick to the script!”
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Fan idea of how Ch. 3 starts up in the TV studio Rook (the main antagonist in this version) has.
Actups (act up) are the main inhabitants of the studios, acting as backup/background/secondary actors and participants. Since Toriels locked in an endless loop of competing and winning a baking show with the Cookup variants, Susie is stuck as a kaiju attacking a Lilliput city, and Undyne (who intros the chapter and stumbles into things) is caught in a wild west show set up and dealing with Holdups, This Actup takes on her role in a sitcom featuring only her and Kris.
She’s new, so her acting is a little bad, her costume is unconvincing (looks even worse with the magic cameras off) and while either way you can escape the scenario by playing alongin different ways, being defiant has her unintentionally reenacting a conversation with Asriel before he left for college, with her acting being genuine reactions while trying not to break the script
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“ I know it’s only a pilot *wink and nod* ,and you gotta go…but….but know y-you always have a place here with me. I love you.”
“I’ll be here here if you need me and wanna do a reshoot. (I.E. explore the area when it’s transformed by the magic of the studio cameras, as opposed to being a stage)”
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She comes back into play to snap toriel out of her baking show loop, where her acting can become much better on its own (after you give her sets of direction to go off of, as a start).
Go through with luring Mike out, or completely follow Mike’s machinations, and she plays and even larger role…
#klassenkampf #demoberlin #actup #preisstopp #krisenprofiteure #energiesenkung #keinezwangsräumung #stromsperre #gassperre
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkAJZ3ADloa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Flashback Fridays with BCD! “And the category is EXECUTIVE REALNESS! I pride myself in knowing which fashion statement to use to bring attention to critical issues affecting our #lgbtqia community. Here we are 33 years later and we find ourselves still having to #actup especially for our 🏳️⚧️ #protecttranskids, and anyone with a skin tone other than white, and once again the LGBTQ+ community has been a consistent target for stigma and discrimination in regards to #monkeypox virus. This is no time for us to sit on our laurels folks! Use fashion, voice, pen, email, legs, coins, you get my point, to protect our rights and the dignity of ALL life! Can I get a @thelinabradford witness from my Sistas! - BCD ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#life #clothingrequest #fashionaddict #classyandfashionable
#ltkstyletip
#lookbook #whatimwearing #thefashionforce
#aboutalook #instagram
#interiorconsultants #interiorstylist #interiorandstyling #luxuryinteriorsonabudget #staypositive #inspirationeverywhere
#InteriorDesignCommunity
#BCD #BecomeaDiamond #stylish (at Durham, North Carolina)
https://www.instagram.com/p/ChLopThODkj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
As part of the @aids_conference 2022 in @montreal, soul queen Michelle Sweeney and her singers sang ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘I Will Survive’ at the Parc de l’Espoir in memory of all of those affected by and lost to HIV/AIDS. A beautiful remembrance. ♥️ #2slgbtq #actup #mtlmoments #lgbttravel #hiv #aids 📷 @bugsburnett (at Montreal, Quebec)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CguCmAMM_uw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Act Up at City Hall Event Footage · Lesbian Herstory Archives AudioVisual Collections
Video recording of an ACTUP protest in 1998
“Handheld video recording of the ACT UP action "Target City Hall” on March 28, 1989. Footage includes: ACT UP members chanting “Health Care is a right,” “the whole world’s watching,” “shame,” “act up, fight back, fight aids;” protestors engaging in civil disobedience by sitting down in the street and blocking traffic; police arresting protestors and insisting that protestors stay on the sidewalk; protestors carrying signs; discussion with an ACT UP lawyer and a police officer about the arrest of Jimmy Floris (sp?) who was brought to the 7th precinct.“
keith on sunday. #berkeley #telegraphavenue #mural #keithharing #actup #solitarywalker
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfWunaIrff0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
This delightful person at the @transresistancema March had the best shirt AND the best signage! They said it was a reprint of an old #ActUp shirt, which makes it doubly awesome. They also helped me lead a cheer I’d heard and loved at last year’s march:
“We’re here!
We’re queer!
We’re fabulous,
Don’t fuck with us!”
Christofascism and the desire for ultimate control is the motivation behind SCOTUS stripping away bodily autonomy and freedoms from us. Thus this shirt felt especially on point.
#pridemonth #pride #transresistance #transrights #transgender #transrightsarehumanrights #protecttranskids #lgbtqia #lgbtq #lgbt #queer #queerpride #sodomtodaygomorrahtheworld #keepyourrosariesoffmyovaries #fuckscotus #roevwade #transresistancemarch
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfRZNNbuLoo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
