You ever just wake up from an incredibly graphic and realistic nightmare that was a pure psychological horror based on your own personal phobias and trauma and just roll over like “aw shit I got too hot last night I guess.” And then make toast like you didn’t just experience the nine circles of hell before 9 am
do not forget the patron saint of these weeks that we celebrate ourselves proudly and openly in the streets
her name was Marsha P Johnson, and we have her to thank for so much.
remember, the first Pride was a riot, and she was one of the brave souls who endured it to help carve the path which so many of us walk today. she helped found several activist groups regarding LGBT safety and wellbeing. and she was absolutely radiant, too.
What’s wild is that you’ll have an abusive parent. And you’ll maintain a relationship with them despite your better instincts because that’s your parent and you want them to be a parent. And one day you’ll bring up all the things that they did to you because they need to be addressed. The baggage needs to be unpacked. And they’ll say what do you want me to do with this box of rotting flesh? And you’ll say I want you to acknowledge the box of rotting flesh. I want you to apologize for cutting it off of me and stuffing it into that box and then forcing the box onto me. I want you to recognize that I have been carrying this box for years. And I want you to help me carry it. And they’ll say well where’s my apology for you putting your unsuspecting body into my hands and then expecting me not to stick a knife in you? And you just have to move on because the only alternative is rotting in the box yourself.
“Suddenly, the hospitals were full of lesbians who were volunteering. Volunteering to go into those rooms and help my friends who were dying. I remember being so moved by them because gay men hadn’t been too kind to lesbians. We’d call them ‘fish’ and make fun of the butch dykes in the bars – and yet, there they were.”
In the 80s, the AIDS crisis was devastating the world of GLBT people - as the acronym read at the time. Gay men were banned from donating blood, which was desperately needed by patients dying from AIDS. The fear around HIV was so great that doctors and nurses refused to even enter the rooms of AIDS patients. These patients were often abandoned by their families in their dying days. There was a crisis was in the GLBT community, and so lesbians stepped in.
Lesbians organized blood drives in order to give blood to AIDS patients who desperately needed it. These blood drives attracted dozens, if not hundreds of lesbians at a time who all donated their blood. They called themselves the Blood Sisters, and they organized regular blood drives for at least 4 years. HIV patients needed frequent blood transfusions due to anemia induced from the virus, and so lesbians provided this blood.
In addition to blood drives, lesbians also took place as physical caretakers for gay men with AIDS, who were often abandoned by their families and even nursing staff who refused to go into their rooms. Lesbians held hands, fed, and took care of them.
In order to honor the efforts of lesbians during the AIDS crisis, the GLBT acronym was changed to LGBT, with lesbians deliberately at the front. Lesbians were a crucial part of the fight against AIDS, and this change would immortalize it in our community.
today marks the second year anniversary of when i decided to create a twitter account and share my art online again!
i never imagined being in this position, I’m so happy and proud of this little community we grew, thank you so much for all your love & support all this time 💗🌾
As a kid, I was really upset that Bill Watterson wouldn’t license Calvin & Hobbes so I could have plushies or so there would be a Saturday morning cartoon. Now, I realize his resistance is the reason we don’t have a Calvin & Hobbes DreamWorks movie starring Chris Pratt.