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9 votes
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Book recommendation: A Half-Built Garden, by Ruthanna Emrys
This sci-fi book starts out as a first contact novel. Aliens show up and say "Your planet is dying--we're here to rescue you! Come join our galactic federation!" Here's the twist: the protagonist...
This sci-fi book starts out as a first contact novel. Aliens show up and say "Your planet is dying--we're here to rescue you! Come join our galactic federation!"
Here's the twist: the protagonist emphatically refuses. The world is sick, but humanity is healing it. Successfully. They have been for decades. And they refuse to leave Earth and go explore the stars until the job is done.
Thus begins this story's major conflict. The aliens have visited a few other planets with signs of advanced civilization, and in every case they've arrived too late--the other civilizations have extincted themselves by the time they arrive. The aliens are emphatic that technological societies cannot thrive on a planet's surface; in every other case, either the planet or the civilization dies. The humans are unfazed. Repairing an ecosystem is possible, they say. We've proven it. Are proving it. Yes, there's a hurricane bearing down on us, but the storms get a little less intense every year.
This is a story about meeting people utterly unlike you and finding common ground with them. It's about imagining a better future and working doggedly toward it.
Eco-focused stories usually have a back-to-the-land, pastoral vibe; they want to get in touch with nature by reducing our use of technology as much as possible. That's not this book at all. Our heroes use neural interfaces and networked decision-making algorithms to manage the restoration of the ecology. They write algorithms that weight the vote in favor of community-defined ethical preferences. Technology isn't the enemy--corporations are, which is why the corps were exiled decades ago. Networks and algorithms can be powerfully good when they're used to benefit the many instead of the few.
This book has so much heart and so much beautiful imagery. It is gloriously weird in lots of ways I'm not going to spoil. It's a hopeful book that's giving me ideas I'm starting work on now. You can find it here or in your local library.
5 votes -
Trans person infilitrates CPAC - Part 2
6 votes -
‘Love wins’ say Greek lesbian couple as they wed at last
19 votes -
Trans person infilitrates CPAC
16 votes -
Meet Fríði Djurhuus, frontman of the Faroe Islands' first queer vegan punk band Joe & the Shitboys
11 votes -
Finland has rejected the far right, but is the country ready for a gay, Green head of state in Pekka Haavisto?
8 votes -
Recruited to play sports, and win a culture war
4 votes -
Why you should watch Straight Jacket, the lost gay rom-com
4 votes -
Group dynamics and division of labor within the anti-LGBTQ+ pseudoscience network
13 votes -
From lesbian rom-coms to moody gay ghost stories, there's a queer holiday title for everyone in the alphabet and every mood
17 votes -
The personal, political art of board-game design
6 votes -
Daniel Tosh's new podcast - Episode 1 | Interviewing my wife's gynecologist
20 votes -
Rock Hudson: How a gay truck driver became the biggest star in Hollywood
8 votes -
Why anonymous sperm donation is over in the US and why that matters
20 votes -
Self-proclaimed 'gay furry hackers' breach nuclear lab; demands research into IRL catgirls
71 votes -
In Canada’s battle with Big Tech, smaller publishers and independent outlets struggle to survive
15 votes -
New College: How Ron DeSantis is forcing Florida brain drain by targeting an LGBTQ+ campus
24 votes -
Subversive, queer and terrifyingly relevant: six reasons why Moby-Dick is the novel for our times (2019)
23 votes -
Nationalist leader convicted for ordering violence against Polish abortion rights, lgbtq rights, protester “Grandma Kate”
17 votes -
X runs unblockable ‘timeline takeover’ ad promoting anti-trans film
96 votes -
Scholastic Book Fair will discontinue separate collection of race and gender books
23 votes -
The NHL has banned Pride Tape, creating its own ‘Don’t Say Gay’ policy
34 votes -
Joe Biden administration grants Seattle Children's Hospital $240K for LGBT sex education tool
11 votes -
Chick-fil-A plans UK restaurants opening after previously facing backlash from LGBTQ+ rights activists
23 votes -
'Project 2025' and the 'Mandate for Leadership'; the conservative plan for America
56 votes -
From fights over LGBT rights to prayer at school board meetings, Chino Valley California public schools have become ground zero for the culture wars
9 votes -
US veterans discharged under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ are still fighting for justice — and benefits
28 votes -
Brazil high court rules homophobic slurs punishable by prison
15 votes -
More than thirty years after its publication, picture book Daddy's Roommate has once again found itself the target of censorship
13 votes -
US state supreme courts were once dominated by Democrats. A concerted effort by right-wing groups has changed that - with massive implications for abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and elections.
49 votes -
The fight for Pride in Arlington, Washington: All this over four hours in a public park
22 votes -
How bisexuality changed video games
37 votes -
Queens on a Quest | Dimension 20: Dungeons and Drag Queens
22 votes -
How scientific conferences are responding to US abortion bans and anti-LGBTQ+ laws
32 votes -
US Supreme Court says First Amendment entitles web designer to refuse to do gay weddings
56 votes -
Living Colour - Bi (1993)
8 votes -
Hidden pain, controlled bodies: Does ballet have to be like this? A recent explosion of revelations from ballet dancers confronts an art form afraid to look itself in the mirror
27 votes -
Estonia legalizes same-sex marriage
47 votes -
Dungeons and Drag Queens debuts a fabulous, fearsome foursome
27 votes -
Alex Scott on love, Lineker and standing up for LGBTQ+ rights
7 votes -
Self harm, short sleeves, and trigger warnings. What is fair?
Yesterday someone on /r/lgbt posted this picture of themself at a pride event, and several people in the thread commented on OP's self harm scars - one asking them to please and thank you spoiler...
Yesterday someone on /r/lgbt posted this picture of themself at a pride event, and several people in the thread commented on OP's self harm scars - one asking them to please and thank you spoiler tag the image and post a trigger warning as they found the sight of OP's self harm scars triggering.
As someone who has very similar scars as OP I said fuck that, I disagree. I found it offensive that the sight of someone else's scars somehow grants you the right and allows you to tell them to cover up or hide themself because they find it triggering. To ask to have trigger warnings and spoiler tags added is unfair, in my opinion - the commenter then replied that it's not that hard to do. But for me it's obviously not about the effort it takes to do it, it's about the fundamental principle of asking someone to cover up or hide their body that I take issue with.
OP said elsewhere that they have struggled with mental health in the past but moved on, and clearly they are now at the point that they feel comfortable or don't mind that other people can see their scars. And I certainly feel like they should be allowed to wear whatever they like. I think that showing scars like this is 1) brave, 2) helps reduce stigma surrounding self harm, and 3) should be entirely that person's prerogative - their body, their choice.
So I am curious what you all think about this?
Is it fair to expect or ask someone to tag their picture like this, to hide their scars, to cover up, etc.?
54 votes -
This independent Halifax cinema closed nearly thirty years ago. But its legacy is still intact
4 votes -
North Carolina GOP censures Senior State Sen. Tillis for backing LGBTQ+ rights and other policies
14 votes -
How "Will & Grace" beat "Ellen's" gay curse
3 votes -
ACT passes Australian-first legislation banning irreversible medical procedures for young intersex children
12 votes -
Any skydivers here?
I love to skydive even though I'm relatively new. It's given me lots of motivation to lose weight and the community so far is great! As a trans woman in the US South who jumps in the South, I've...
I love to skydive even though I'm relatively new. It's given me lots of motivation to lose weight and the community so far is great! As a trans woman in the US South who jumps in the South, I've found them to be incredibly accepting and welcoming, and there's nowhere I'd rather be than hanging out at the drop zone on a pretty day!
Anyone else like to skydive?
8 votes -
Taiwan grants right of adoption to same-sex couples in latest move toward full equality
19 votes -
Three generations of trans Americans reflect on what has (and hasn't) changed
9 votes -
Pokemon Pride Team: A commissioned artwork
In March, I asked a question here about commissioning artwork. I was then lucky enough to be contacted by @cc-louis. I was struck by the use of color in his portfolio and engaged with him to...
In March, I asked a question here about commissioning artwork.
I was then lucky enough to be contacted by @cc-louis. I was struck by the use of color in his portfolio and engaged with him to create some artwork as a gift for my husband.
The Artwork
I thought about putting this at the end for suspense, but I know people are just going to scroll to get to the good stuff, so without any further delay:
Here it is!
And here is the print!I'm in the back holding the Pokeball cupcake from the previous batch of cupcakes (I am the de facto taste tester of my husband's baking). My adorable husband is the one pulling the current batch out of the oven. Our adorable dog is looking up, holding his favorite toy in his mouth, hoping something will fall on the floor so that he can try to eat it.
We're surrounded by my husband's Pokemon Pride Team, some of which have been helping him out with the baking, all of which are eager to get at those delicious fresh-baked goods.
The Setup
My husband is a lifelong Pokemon fan and has been playing the games since he was a kid. He doesn't just keep up with the series -- he often goes back and replays old games, doing Nuzlocke runs and themed teams for his playthroughs.
I surreptitiously found out from my husband what his Pokemon team would be if he did an LGBT Pride theme, choosing six Pokemon based on the colors of the rainbow flag. He chose the following:
Red: Scizor
Orange: Kingler
Yellow: Ninetales
Green: Bellossom
Blue: Marill
Purple: ArbokMy husband also loves baking (and I love eating my husband's baking).
The Brief
I wanted to get artwork of us with this Pride Team. I also wanted the Pride theme to be a bit more subdued. As much as I love the rainbow flag, it can be a little too gaudy and rigid for me sometimes. I wanted something that read as a cohesive scene, with the rainbow being more embedded and suggested than outright overt.
The Artist
I cannot speak highly enough of @cc-louis.
While I think the quality of his work speaks for itself, I'll also say that he was a joy to work with. He was consistently prompt and professional in all of our interactions. Furthermore, he was eagerly collaborative throughout the entire process. He would solicit my feedback and respond to any notes I gave him, while also smartly incorporating his own ideas (that were better than mine!). He sent me multiple drafts throughout his creative process to make sure I was happy with the direction he was taking things each step of the way.
The color, overall composition, and many of the incredible details in the pieces, were all him, not me. Early on he suggested a "cozy" feel with the oven as a centerpiece and a source of warm light, and I cannot say enough how much I love how it turned out. It is so beautiful and heartwarming to me.
If any of you are looking for commissioned artwork, I strongly recommend him. If I ever commission another piece, he will be first on my list.
(Hopefully it goes without saying, but @cc-louis did NOT ask me to give this review, nor did he pay me for this endorsement. I'm doing this purely as a very satisfied customer. I actually asked him for permission to give him a plug here!)
The Print
I also asked here about printing the image, and ended up selecting a local print shop. I couldn't really judge the quality of online print services and was worried I'd end up ruining the amazing artwork with a cheap-looking print. I figured a local shop would have a bit more expertise, and that I'd also be able to speak to real people if something came out wrong.
The local print shop did an incredible job, and their price was actually better than some of the online services I was looking at. The image now lives on a 22"x36" canvas, which will be mounted on our wall shortly.
I tried taking a picture of it, but my phone camera doesn't do it justice and makes it look kinda bad. The colors look muted and it looks like there's an odd texture on it that doesn't appear in person (might be small reflections of light?).
Everyone will just have to take my word on it that the artwork looks even better in person. I actually choked up a bit when I picked up the print because it was so beautiful and heartwarming.
I was secretly hoping my husband would happy cry when I showed it to him, but instead he got incredibly giddy (which was even better!) and immediately and proudly started texting the picture out to everyone we know on every single group chat we're on to show it off.
Overall, I am incredibly happy with how it turned out. My husband absolutely loves the piece, and I am beyond grateful to @cc-louis for turning my clumsy idea into a thing of beauty.
18 votes