#Transphobia in Pop Culture

[hussyknee]

You know what? You're right about everything. In fact people who shit all over mspec gays/lesbians not only have no concept of how anything works, but they're also fucking selfish and horrible members of the community. I'll die on this hill. A bunch of assholes only out for themselves.

We are actively under fire in many countries. US and UK are actively heading into a trans genocide. Russia is getting worse, too now. Loads of other countries I haven't named. (Before anyone says jack shit the fucking center named after the person who coined the term genocide said we were headed that way. Genocide isnt an overnight thing you stupid leftists Do your damn research and shut up.)

We are at a high rate of suicide and sexual violence, regular violence housing and health care denial, etc. Do you think someone is going to stop and make sure someone isn't a snowflake queer or "tucute" or mspec lesbian before they bash their fucking head it? Do you think a doctor is gonna tell a nonbinary person who looks visibly queer "of course I'll treat you, you're not one of those trans people" Not to mention how you're so quick to exclude closeting and questioning kids who already want to kill themselves? Do you fucking hear the way you talk about your own people? LEAVE OUR OWN PEOPLE ALONE AND CALL YOUR GOVERNEBT REPS OR GET PETTITIONS CIRCULATED OR DONATION POSTS BOOSTED!

You would really rather attack people who's fucking LABELS you disagree with than do anything fucking positive to protect the rest of us? It makes me sick to my fucking stomach that y'all care more about policing than you do about your own people? Absolute selfish and cruel bootlicker behaviour. It's disgraceful, and I'm ashamed and enraged to share space with you people.

#pop off honey #either these people dont have any real problems #or they're taking their helplessness against real problems out on their own community #it's all this is #clout chasing bully culture dressed up in the language of oppression #mutual aid and organized protests are much harder than going after people online for no reason #lgbtqia #queer discourse #exclusionism #mspec lesbian #bi lesbian #transphobia #trans genocide #queerphobia #homophobia #asks #anon #knee of huss

[chungledown-bimothy]

youtube's "people also watched" feature is terrible, but also it's really funny that i searched for shucked and was suggested a matpat being transphobic compilation

#for context shucked is the show for which alex newell won their tony #(and yeah i absolutely was gonna watch it because i love her and want to see everything he's in) #so transphobia in pop culture is relevant but specifically matpat? why??

[deaddee-anime-brownfanlady]

The shit coming out about Taika Waititi and his transphobic tweets is not shocking nor as surprising as some people making it out to be. Like now!? People are just now finding out how much of an asshole & fake performance "progressive" douchbag Taika is, the man has been making condescending, disrespectful tweets against those that dare throw any sort of criticism his way or how he shits-talk on Loki fans and from what he says in interviews also articles the guy has always come off as an extremely fake full-of-himself prick who thinks his shit doesn't stink.

I wish some people stop treating this dude like he's the greatest writer/ director In history or acting like he can't be criticized due to his ethnicity when the man has made as well as said some anti-black comments and content & isn’t as wonderful as his stans or fans think he is.

#taika waititi #anti taika waititi #transphobia #mcu critical #pop culture #marvel #please stop putting famous people on pedestals or act like they can't do no wrong #mcu

[thecultofx]

Just an announcement on where I stand

I'm against bigotry like racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism e.t.c and won't support you if you hold these opinions and beliefs.

The Cult of X is against bigotry. Lord X will kill you and torture your soul for eternity all the same no matter who you are. Beware the dark Lord's presence, be a loyal cultist.

Hail Sonic.exe, hail Lord X, hail the red ring, hail the red X!

For that all deserve the same fate under the rule of Lord X!

#paganism #paganblr #pop culture paganism #lord x #pagan #sonic.exe #sonic the hedgehog #antiracism #intersectionality #queerphobia #homophobia #antisemitism #ableism #transphobia #cissexism

[historyhermann]

Skip and Loafer Spoiler-Filled Review

Skip and Loafer is romantic comedy and slice-of-life anime, written and directed by Kotomi Deai. It is based on an ongoing manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Misaki Takamatsu. This animated series was produced by P.A. Works, known for series such as Canaan, Kuromukuro, Akiba Maid War, and Aquatope on the White Sand.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the fortieth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on July 16, 2023.

This series has a simple storyline. A girl named Mitsumi Iwakura (voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa) goes to Tsubame West High School, a school in Tokyo, with the goal of becoming a rural planner in her hometown. She leaves her friends, such as Fumino "Fumi" Toyama (voiced by Sumire Morohoshi), behind. While walking to school, Mitsumi believes everything is going her way, but gets lost. She is helped by another student, Sōsuke Shima (voiced by Akinori Egoshi). Somehow, they both get to the opening ceremony just in time, allowing her to give a speech to the incoming class. However, thanks to their fast running, she throws up onto her teacher, earning her the nickname of "barf girl". And that's only the first episode.

Admittedly, I had not originally planned to watch Skip and Loafer. Reading Alex Henderson's review of the first episode for Anime Feminist, convinced me otherwise. This view was reinforced by the spring premiere digest on the same site. It described the series as a "sweet coming-of-age story" with an anxious, driven, and endearing female protagonist. The review also said the series had a "positively depicted trans guardian" named Nao (voiced by Mitsuki Saiga). After watching all twelve episodes of the first season, I have to agree with their assessment. However, there is a lot more to the show than the assessment by these reviewers.

There are hilarious moments in each episode. This is especially the case when it comes to Mitsumi's antics, or when the reality of people is hidden. This humor is not based off any tropes or common stereotypes. Even so, it makes you empathize with the characters, endear them you, and make you interested in learning more about them as people.

Unlike other anime I've reviewed this year, Skip and Loafer gives its characters depth. In the fourth episode, Mitsumi is told by slacker teacher Hanazono that student council treasurer Tokiko Takamine (voiced by Minami Tsuda) is an organized person. She is impressed and connects with her almost instantly, seeing her as a senpai. Takamine even tells her how to use her time more efficiently.

However, Takamine has anxiety hidden below the surface. She is barely holding it together and even has nightmares about missing the bus or train. I liked that Takamine learns from Mitsumi to not panic if things don't go her way, to accept what is around her, and not be tense all the time. This is something which many people can resonate with.

Somehow, Mitsumi inadvertently causes Takamine's nightmares to disappear. She even influences her to admit that everyone should have their own path and way to use their time. Overall, Takamine is very relatable, as she is generally very organized. In some ways, she reminds me of my own personal organizational habits.

The interactions between Mitsumi and Sōsuke are at the center of Skip and Loafer. They learn more about each other and cheer up one another, if one of them feels down. While there are some romantic feelings between them, they are undoubtedly good friends who support each other, even if times get tough. That is part of the great storytelling in this anime.

I further liked the series because it isn't as dramatic like Kaguya-sama: Love Is War or Yuri is My Job!. Nor is it idolish like Alice Gear Aegis Expansion and Kizuna no Allele. Instead, it has a similar same pace, and feel, to Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear or iyashikei series like Adachi and Shimamura and Laid-Back Camp. It reminds me a bit of K-On! and My Roommate Is a Cat for the same reason. However, it isn't an iyashikei series. There is a focus on the plot, characters, and worldbuilding. But there isn't an immersive visual setting, meaning that it does not fit the definition of this anime sub-genre.

Slice-of-life series are some of my favorite anime. I still remember fondly watching, apart from those already named, Azumanga Daioh, Squid Girl, YuruYuri, Kin-iro Mosaic, and Teasing Master Takagi-san. However, Skip and Loafer isn't exactly like those anime. Not is it like Let's Make a Mug Too, Akebi's Sailor Uniform, Sasaki and Miyano, Gabriel DropOut, or Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop. In some ways, this series gives me the same vibes as the first cour of The Aquatope on White Sand, a series also produced by P.A. Works. The second cour of that series had a different tone, as it showed the brutal reality of the workplace and how it can wear you down to nothing.

Skip and Loafer stands out because of the casual queerness shown in the series. This is especially exemplified by Mitsumi's aunt, Nao. I hadn't picked up that she was trans, because it is relatively subtle, until reading some articles about it. After that, I could recognize it being mentioned throughout the series. Nao appears to be accepted and no one bats an eye about it.

The fact that Nao is trans is as subtle, in some ways, as May Marigold stating openly that she is trans in a Volume 8 episode of RWBY, without specifically using the word "trans". There is some danger in subtlety, as everyone may not recognize it. Some series have done it better than others. I would say that Skip and Loafer does a good job of this, although it would be great to have additional LGBTQ characters.

There is more than casual queerness in Skip and Loafer. It is represented by characters that lean into "common archetypes." Nao experiences transmisogyny and Mitsumi supports her. She cares for Mitsumi deeply. She goes undercover as an "uncle", and is joined by Egashira (voiced by Yuka Terasaki). The latter thinks Sosuke is a "clout-chaser," during Mitsumi's date with Sosuke in the eighth episode. The reality is that Egashira has a crush on him and is jealous.

In that same episode, Mitsumi and her friends come over for a summer outing, a sleepover, allowing them to get even closer than they had before. She tells her friends that Nao is "biologically male" (i.e., trans), to not cause a panic. Thanks to Nao, she knows some make-up language, which gives her a leg up in their conversations. Later, when Egoshira tries to leave, Nao convinces her to stay, again showing her role in keeping Mitsumi's friends together.

The bond between Egashira and Nao is strong. In one Skip and Loafer episode, Egashira is sad that she can't talk to her at the school festival. This is after both, as noted earlier, bonded when they were spying on Sosuke and Mitsumi, during their date. Hopefully, a second season will expand on their friendship.

One of the most popular ships among fans is between Mitsumi's two schoolmates, Yuzuki Murashige (voiced by Maaya Uchida) and Makoto Kurume (voiced by Megumi Han), who are opposites from one another. Mitsumi brings them closer together, with fans praising their romantic "chemistry", including cute interactions.

The implied romantic feelings between Makoto and Yuzuki reaches a high point in the show's 11th episode. Yuzuki puts off a guy who is hitting on her and says that she dislikes it when people praise her art without looking at it deeply. Of course, Makoto does the opposite, praising the art, and makes Yuzuki blush in response.

While some may say their interactions are  "yuri-baiting", referring to series which show romantic relationships between girls/women without having that "relationship come to fruition," it is more fair to call it yuri subtext. For one, Makoto and Yuzuki have unresolved feelings for one another and aren't a couple. Their feelings have not been realized. Yuri subtext is all over the place in anime, from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha to Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica. It differs from more directly-shown love like that between Anis and Euphie in MagiRevo or one-sided love shown in Alice Gear Aegis Expansion.

Mitsumi is a sympathetic character because she isn't good at athletics, similar to Mako's worries about athletic events. This serves as a way for Mitsumi to bond deeper with Sosuke, who accepts her for who she is. Sports, and their emphasis, are a major part of Japanese culture, like it is in the U.S. Those who don't conform to the "norm" to be ridiculed. In this series, the difference from the norm is portrayed as acceptable. It is fine to be less social, quiet, and not like sports.

One of the best parts of Skip and Loafer is how Mitsumi connects with her classmates, either Sosuke, Yuzuki, Makoto, or Mika Egashira. The latter is nervous, at first, at interactions with nasty male classmates. She even has a mental list of those who are mean to her and vows revenge on them for what they did to her.

As a result of their friendship, Egashira's attitudes change. Her crush on Sosuke strengthens, even as she feels left behind as Sosuke appears closer to Mitsumi than her. She is hiding inner conflicts and trauma, implying she has low self-worth.

Her desire to go through schooling, to help her hometown of Ikajima, is admirable. Throughout the series, she has a connection to Ikajima since her childhood friend, Fumi still lives in the town. She doesn't have many lines in the series and so few, that no one even bothered to add her to the show's Wikipedia page. She is someone that Mitsumi can vent and talk to. This all comes to a head in the ninth episode when she visits Ikajima and has a fun time with her middle school friends.

The romantic comedy themes of Skip and Loafer shine through in the show's sixth episode. Mitsumi begins believing rumors about Sosuke, thinking he is a "bad boy" who skipped school and faked being sick. After he tells her to not believe the rumors, she realizes that she is in love with him, and tells Fumi she feels the same way about Sosuke as Fumi did about her friend as well.

This plot is interlaced with Mitsumi's work in the school's student council. She becomes the student council secretary alongside Takamine. She encourages the latter to work with the new president-elect, Hiroto Kazakami (voiced by Junya Enoki), telling her that all we can do is hope it pays off some day. This is diametrically opposed to what is shown in Ippon Again!, that hard work can lead to success. This idea has been questioned in recent years.

Not everything is puppies and roses in this series. This is made clear when Ririka Saijou (voiced by Minako Kotobuki) comes out of nowhere at the end of the seventh episode. She is said to be a "childhood friend" of Sosuke. Ririka is more than that. She is a model who sneers at Mitsumi, calling her a "circus act". She even declares that he can't have a high school life because of an incident four years before in which he, apparently, showed bad judgment. In essence, she blackmails him.

This doesn't stop the growing romance between Mitsumi and Sosuke, however. In fact, in the ninth episode, she expresses her enthusiasm, and gives him three squid crackers from her hometown, because she feels bad for him. Although he feels he doesn't "deserve anything", their interaction brings a smile to his face. As such, Skip and Loafer is saying that rather than beating ourselves up over our mistakes, we should take chances instead.

The last three episodes are some of the strongest in the entire series. While the preparation for a school festival is not a new plot in anime, the play is pertinent in today's world that reactionaries are stronger than ever. It is about a person who falls in love with fascists and joins them because of romance, even turning on his own family!

Some Jewish fans have even stated that anime has a "Nazi problem" and is anti-Semitic due to Attack on Titan, Angel Cop, Fullmetal Alchemist, Hellsing, and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, and Hetalia: Axis Powers characters. These views remain controversial, with the argument that Western viewers are misinterpreting plotlines through a distorted lens.

Back to Skip and Loafer, Sosuke's role as a friend shines through. He cheers up Mitsumi, thinking back to his bad childhood, and tries to make sure Mitsumi doesn't hurt herself. They end up talking and having a fun time together. Understandably, Mitsumi feels bad that she allowed Sosuke to be picked for the play. After all, he didn't want an acting role. Again, this shows the power of peer pressure and "need" to be socially accepted. In fact, Sosuke worries that people only see him one way and he can't do anything to "ruin" that perception.

Sosuke ends up shining through, in the 11th episode. He does an amazing performance, impressing his half-brother Keiri and his mother. He ends up enjoying himself. The series says that he should be grateful to his brother, who has been considerate of him, rather than dismissive. However, Ririka's arrival threatens to destroy it all!

The Skip and Loafer series finale brings this to a head. In an act of intimidation, Ririka falsely accuses Sosuke's mother of making Sosuke act for her again. This causes Sosuke's mother, and Keiri, to leave. Even so, Mitsumi bravely defends Sosuke from Ririke, standing between them both, like an anteater. As a result, Sosuke realizes he can act for himself, rather than doing it for others. He is comforted when he forgets his lines at the end of the school play.

In one of the most powerful scenes in the entire series, Sosuke stands up for himself. He says that he can't make up for what he did to Ririka. Even so, he refuses to follow the same self-destructive path as her, noting that he is enjoying school life. As an olive branch, he offers to do anything to help her move on. Predictably, Ririka is infuriated.

She lashes out, declaring that Sosuke is selfish and narcissistic, and says the same about his mother. She doesn't want him to get his life back and wants to continue manipulating him. As a result, she pushes him away, arguing that Sosuke and his mother can do what they want, but to not show his face to her again. After he thanks her, this shocks her to the core.

Although the series finale might be beginning the "redemption" of Ririka, she is not a sympathetic character. Her pity crying and admission that the scandal, and losing her job, was partially her fault (rather than Sosuke), makes her toxicity that much worse. She is an awful character who treats others poorly. Even her friend, Chris Fukunaga (voiced by Yuusuke Nagano), tells her to not guilt-trip Sosuke. He adds that it is her sole fault her grades sucked. Whether she reforms herself, takes responsibility for her actions, understands her harm, and doesn't cause any further harm, or not, hopefully she is out of Sosuke's life for good.

The Skip and Loafer series finale wraps up loose ends. President Hiroto gets more depth. He tells Takamine that he was expected to be the best from an early age. His family had high standards for success. This causes Takamine to develop a crush. As the school festival ends, there is a touching scene in which Sosuke and Mitsumi realize how much they mean to one another. Mitsumi is undoubtedly more in love with him than ever. She closes out the episode, encapsulating her story of wanting to become a government official in her hometown, and how she got there.

The show's colorful and vibrant animation really sticks with you. Some series are flat and don't have expressive animation. Skip and Loafer is the exact opposite of that and has a distinct art style. As such, the series is that much more appealing.

The same can be said for the series' voice actors. The voices of Mitsumi, Sumi, Sosuke, and Nao, who are Tomoyo Kurosawa, Sumire Morohoshi, Akinori Egoshi, and Mitsuki Saiga respectfully, are talented. Kurosawa is known for her roles in Cutie Honey Universe, Astra Lost in Space, BanG Dream!, and Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina. 

Murohoshi lent her voice to characters in series such as Princess Jellyfish, Little Witch Academia, and Violet Evergarden. Egoshi has voiced characters in Shirobako, Kino's Journey: The Beautiful World, Fruits Basket, and many others. Saiga is known for roles in Cowboy Bebop, R.O.D the TV, Maria Watches Over Us, Ouran High School Host Club, and Yurikuma Arashi.

Minami Tsuda, Yuka Terasaki, Maaya Uchida, and Megumi Han, who voice Takamine, Egashira, Yuzuki, and Makoto, have done many recognizable roles. Tsuda voiced Mei Aihara in the ever-controversial Citrus, Terasaki voiced Babel in Gargantia and Akari Hyūga in Bloom Into You, and Uchida lent her voice to Sharo Kirima in Is the Order a Rabbit?, Catarina Claes in My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, and countless others.

Han has voiced characters in series such as Komi Can't Communicate, RWBY: Ice Queendom, The Dangers in My Heart, and Oshi no Ko. Junya Enoki and Minako Kotobuki, the voices of Hiroto and Ririka, are known for roles in anime such as Heroines Run the Show, Wandering Son, and Your Lie in April.

The last frame of the final Skip and Loafer episode says, "see you tomorrow", implying a possible continuation. If a second season for the series was ordered, which is unlikely, romance between Sosuke and Mitsumi will blossom. The same may be the case for the bond between Makoto and Yuzuki, possible growing feelings that Takamine has for Hiroto, and other relationships between characters. In the process, Mitsumi's trans aunt, Nao, will likely have a significant role.

Skip and Loafer can be streamed on Crunchyroll and is available for purchase on Prime Video.

© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

#skip and loafer #anime #anime feminist #idol anime #iyashikei #yuri subtext #lgbtq #yuri #trans people #transphobia #trans character #rwby #ippon again #mou ippon #toxic relationship #plays #pop culture #reviews #crunchyroll #prime video #Youtube

[catboybiologist]

Biologists: so this person has XY chromosomes and some indication of past masculinization, but is clearly medically and biologically female in many other ways, resulting in dominantly female physiology that is represented in numerous ways

Some guy: see, you drooling liberal cuck? Biology says you're either XX or XY and there's only two genders 😎

Archeologist: so this person has a bone structure that generally overlaps with male metrics, but is placed with artifacts, clothing, and burial implements consistent with women, indicating that they were a woman within the society they lived in.

Some guy: see, you drooling liberal cuck? When archeologists dig up your bones they'll say you're a man 😎

Historian: so the modern language and connotations we associate with transgender individuals was really only solidified in the 20th century due to major prejudice and setbacks. Before that, there were many instances across largely independent cultures of what we would call both transgender people and gender nonconforming cis people, often as separate concepts. The language used to identify them is often messy, however, and has been permanently altered by the way we interpreted and translated it in our own society.

Some guy: see, you drooling liberal cuck? History says that this gender stuff is a modern millennial invention that just popped out of nowhere 😎

Psychologists: trans people are at much higher danger of mental illness due to the combined stress of dysphoria and the constant barrage of transphobia present in our society. They should have access to mental healthcare as a result.

Some guy: see, you drooling liberal cuck? Psychology says that these gender people are just mentally ill 😎

Doctors: so while HRT does have some side effects, they are extremely minor, especially compared to similar medicine. The regret rate for it is less than 1%, lower than even some physically life saving medical treatments.

Some guy: see, you drooling liberal cuck? This medicine is poisoning our kids with vile side effects and there are people who regret it 😎

#cw mock transphobia #trans #transgender #transfemme #sorry for the transfemme focus again im just writing from my perspective #transitioning

[littlemisstfc]

Please don’t support the fan project Galvatron’s Revenge.

Prime Animations, the team behind the film, had just casted a racist and homophobic voice actor as Optimus in the film. This voice actor has a history of making violent threats against Emperor Kumquat and UltraPrimal (two popular trans Transformers YouTubers), has a history of wishing death on BIPOC folks, and has a history of making homophobic comments such as the same ol, “LGBTQ+ people are gr00mers” bullshit.

This person goes by the handle Orbital Bacon. He’s a legitimately awful person and instead of addressing the backlash by firing this person from the project, Prime Animations instead decides to keep him under the pathetic excuse of, “This channel is for Transformers, not identity politics!”

Since Prime Animations has decided to be Boo Boo The Clown Fool by platforming such a despicable piece of shit as a pop culture icon that many LGBTQ+ people look up to, including myself, what’s the point of supporting this project?

Please boycott Galvatron’s Revenge. Please support Transformers fans of color and Transformers LGBTQ+ fans who are content creators such as artists, voice actors, video essayists, and many more. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Racism, homophobia, and transphobia has no place in the Transformers fandom.

#val talks #tf discourse #transformers #tw racism #tw homophobia #tw transphobia

[that-stone-butch]

im sorry do you actually believe misandry is a thing?

it is my opinion as an intersectional feminist that misandry does not exist in the form of a genuine axis of oppression under cisheteropatriarchal white supremacy, no. misandry does not exist in the same fashion that misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, or etc. exist.

however, 'misandry' does exist in the form of a network of behavior that mocks men in a manner that boils down the behavior of men in general to biological/sociological gender essentialism, and ultimately undermines intersectional feminism. misandry, by this definition, exists as a system of beliefs that drastically oversimplify men and those often perceived as men, and the issues they face.

many people are comfortable mistreating men under the guise of feminism, of mocking men and people they perceive as men in ways that completely contradict their body positivity or any other beliefs that are applied to the 'good' or 'more oppressed' genders.

for example, Betty the 'feminist' sees someone who's walking down the street who she thinks is a man. she sees that he has a patchy beard and is wearing unfashionable clothes, and is out of shape. betty laughs at how little men have to try in order to be accepted in society, she mocks his appearance to her friend. betty's friend points out that the stranger might not be a man based on their appearance, that that person may be closeted trans, or may be nonbinary, or any other non-man identities. betty, remembering the rules of feminism, considering the stranger might not be a man, walks back her remarks and says that the stranger can look however they want.

it is crucial to acknowledge first and foremost that this kind of mockery is bad because it can and often is displaced onto people who aren't men; people who are the victim of cisheteropatriarchal society. but it is, by the same token, not okay to treat a man like that either. men are still people, and basic mockery isn't helping anyone.

it's like pop-cultural feminism has decided that men, (or people wrongly seen as men, that's a whole other can of worms) are some sort of category of people that concepts like respect, body positivity, and other general feminist principles don't apply to. because men are the bad guys. i can't think of anything less intersectional than this behavior.

to say nothing of how the (mis)identification of men as a blanket oppressor class (and thus open season for ridicule and mistreatment) completely disregards any sort of class consciousness or understanding of the effect racism has on like, a fuckload of men.

it is important, if not one of the prime goals of intersectional feminism, to acknowledge the way cisheteropatriarchal systems favor men, and to hold men accountable for harmful behaviors that these systems support and encourages (rape culture, etc). but it is needlessly reductive to target men as the sole perpetrators of these wrongs, and pointless to think that bashing them in this way is going to help anyone ever.

#ask #anonymous

[fiapple]

“Woodland’s aunt added that the teen started transitioning after she and her three siblings lost their mom. ‘She got the courage to start living in her truth and started her transition, which her family accepted with open arms,’ the GoFundMe reads. ‘For the years that god gave us her, she was a joy and made sure everyone she was around knew that they were loved.’

According to PGH Lesbians, Woodland studied at the College of Southern Maryland, and her social media was filled with ‘pop culture images, a lot of food and recipes, attractive shoes, and images of what she aspired for her home.’

‘She was a very real typical teenager who had a job that she described as boring, but still she went,’ the blog reads. ‘She had hopes, ambitions, dreams. She celebrated her accomplishments and triumphs. All things she deserved, things ripped away from her by gun violence and the transphobia and misogynoir that permeates our society.’ ”

#her name was tasiyah #tw transphobia #tw murder #tw death #tw misogynoir #tw black death #tw transmisogyny #tw gun violence #lgbt #lgbt+

[pigeonflavouredcake]

How to organise a grimoire

This is how I've decided to organise my grimoire now that I'm digitising it. I thought this may be of some benefit to other autistic/dyslexic practioners by sharing how my brain likes to formulate things. The trick is to categorise.

I have one large category I'm calling the chapter and every chapter has a number of categories within it and smaller sub categories underneath each one.

So my brain basically works like a russian nesting doll or like a very messy spider diagram. Organising it this way helps me to stay on track and stops me from getting overwhelmed. (I used this method in all my university essays and it helped push my grade up a lot).

I'm not writing it in any specific order but here's a list of what I've completed so far. Please feel free to take any of these. I hope this helps you with your own grimoire writing.

Theory 📚

Terminology

Paganism: historical context. Modern context. Core values.

New Age Spirituality: Development. Capitalism. Modern Example.

Cultural Appropriation: What it is. How it happens. How to avoid it. List of closed practices and red flags.

Wicca: What it is. How it's practiced. Gerald Gardner. Criticisms.

Thelema: Aleister Crowley. Development (egyptomania). Criticisms.

Conspiracy Theories: Development (root cause). Dangers. Examples. List of spiritual conspiracies. List of antisemitic stereotypes and propaganda.

Cults: What are they. How are they dangerous. How to recognise one (B.I.T.E model). List of religious/spiritual cults.

Satanic Panic: Historical development to our current satanic panic. The 1980's moral panic. Christian persecution complex.

KJV: Who was King James. The creation of the KJV. The KJO movement (evangelical and Christian fundamentalism. American Folk magic)

Witches in context: The modern witch. The post-modern witch. Historical context (England. Ancient Greece. Ireland).

Cats in context: Modern context. Familiars. Historical context (Egypt. Greece. China. England).

Transphobia: the idea behind terfism. How to recognise a terf. Examples of Terfism in spirituality (Lister). Dispelling myths and Misinformation.

Queerness: Erasure and queerphobia. Why queer people gravitate to witchcraft/paganism/Wicca. Examples (intersex. Gay relationships. Lesbian relationships. Asexuality).

Practical Basics 🔮

Terminology

Health and Safety: Fire. Smoke. Essential Oils. Toxicity. Wound Care. Biohazards.

How to make a magical space: What they are. Different types. Tools and their uses.

Grimoire/Book of Shadows: What they are. The differences. Different Formats. The Front cover.

Cleansing: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Grounding: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Protection: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Intuition: What it is. What its used for. Developing it. Examples.

Discernment: What it is. What its used for. Steps of discernment (from a Christian perspective. From a secular perspective). Psychosis.

The Year and the holidays: Samhain. Yule. Wassailing. Imbolc. Spring Equinox. Beltaine. Summer Solstice. Lughnasadh. Autumn Equinox. (Historical development. How they're celebrated).

Deity Worship: Scientific Context (Neuroscience of Religiosity). Spiritual Context. Worship Vs working with. Finding a deity. Your religious rights. Critiquing your religious path. For example ↓

Hellenism: Historical context (Wars. Colonisation. Slavery. Citizenship. Pederasty). Modern Context (White washing. Transphobia).

Your Deities (if you choose to have any): Iconography. Mythology. Associations. Offerings.

Spirits: Ghosts. Shadow people. Demons (what they are. fear and labelling. History Vs pop culture). The Warrens (history. Criticisms). Other folklore.

Practical Magic ✨

I have a lot more planned for this section.

Terminology

Divination: What it is. What its used for. List of types and tools. For example ↓

Tarot: Structure of the tarot deck. Historical context. Modern Context. The fool and you.

Basic Astrology: What it is. Historical Context. Signs. Planets. Houses. Reading a natal chart.

Colour Magic: Basic colour theory. Symbolism. Practical application.

Correspondence 🌿

When there's a long list of items and spiritual meanings/applications I keep it in this section at the back of my grimoire.

Colours

Symbols

The Classic Elements

Astrology

Stones

Herbs and Spices (kitchen cupboard specific)

Common plants in your area (invasive and non invasive)

Seasonal fruit and vegetables

Miscellaneous laws and philosophies

#how to organise a grimoire #grimoire organisation #grimoire tips #grimoire #grimoire ideas #grimoire inspo #digital grimoire #autistic witch #dyslexic witch #witchblr #witch #witchcraft #pagan #pagan witch #kitchen witch #paganism #hellenic pagan #hellenic witch #baby witch #baby pagan #practitioner #eclectic witch #cottage witch #witch aesthetic #witch tips #witch help #book of magic

[frankingsteinery]

been sitting on this for awhile because its a bit controversial, but its one of the main reasons i was pushed into the frankenstein fandom space so i figured it was high time to talk about it

ive noticed that theres this general opinion, both among scholars and present in more fandom-y spaces, that victor is somehow effeminate for what are ultimately symptoms of disability (fainting spells, being bedridden, hysteria, etc) as if being physically or mentally ill is something that is inherently feminine. i have read articles published by academics that victor’s sickness is proof of his “femininity,” which is why he wants to take on the traditional part of a woman, that is, childbirth (via creature)

even in general, and not on an academic level, it emerges in jokes or memes all over the place — people poking at victor for being weak, or sick, or a gay little UWU bean sub, because aw hes fainting all the time XD and he’s sooo dramatic! as if these things were somehow both his choice, and somehow innately feminine

so, not only is there this weird link people are attempting to draw between disability and femininity, but also queerness (particularly, ive noticed, being a “bottom” or “sub” — but thats a whole separate can of worms) and femininity. as if being either of these things is inherently girly or cutesy and thus worthy of being made fun of

there comes a point (particularly when these interpretations leak into broader understandings of something via pop culture), where, for lack of a better word, it comes off as fetishizing or romanticizing queerness and/or queer relationships

and while this may seem relatively harmless on the surface and comes off as just thoughtless jokes made in bad taste, it IS serious. not just within the context of frankenstein, but the general premise of the severity that even subconscious reinforcement of detrimental and stereotypical ideas should be treated with. its a slippery slope from jokes to notions that affect you and how you see the world

this is obviously part of a broader problem with the way disability, gender, identity and etc is thought about and taught, which results in people harboring all sorts of these types of underlying prejudices. its just that victor happens to be a particularly good example, wherein he is a feminized man that is ascribed as “weak,” and the attribute “weak” is ascribed to someone who has been historically analyzed as both disabled and queer. this has been reinforced for decades, and i feel like this treatment of his character in this way is so blatantly obvious and runs rampant while it goes nearly entirely unchecked — and also in the case of frankenstein discourse, its often a quadruple whammy (ableism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia)

and the worst part is that it is so often completely unintentional, and the bulk of this sort of content are well-meaning jokes. i genuinely don’t think people do this in bad faith or out of malice, but spreading these concepts even in formats that appear to be harmless (jokes, memes) just contribute to and continue to spread these ideas and stereotypes. its frustrating because its hard to point out and bring attention to without coming off as nitpicky or overly sensitive because this sort of thing is just so SUBTLE, and these beliefs are so gradually learned and then reinforced on a subconscious level

i could go on but for risk of sounding redundant ill digress, however to be clear this is not me saying you cant view victor as transfem, or disabled, or queer (i do!), or to view him as feminine, or etc, but that you should look at the reasons for WHY you think so, and how you or others treat the subject when talking about it.

#rob.txt #frankenstein #frankenstein the modern prometheus #victor frankenstein #gothic lit #if this warrants any tws let me know #analysis #ish

[jasper-pagan-witch]

Once again: Don't fucking follow me if you still interact with Harry Potter or JK Rowling's other works in any form. This includes your Hogwarts House in your description, this includes fanfiction, and this EXPECIALLY includes if it's part of any pop culture magic/religious practice.

Fuck outta here with your racism, transphobia, antisemitism, and other various forms of bigotry. Shoo.

#jasper post #harry potter

[olderthannetfic]

I've seen some posts about what shows first got people into F/F fandom that have said they're not including The L Word in these discussions because "it's problematic." Which makes no sense to me. How does recognizing that something is problematic in 2023 change how you felt about it when it was airing in the 2000s, or when someone online told you about it in the 2010s because it was still a huge part of lesbian pop culture for a while after it ended? It was the show that helped me realize I was gay. Yeah I recognize a lot of its issues with biphobia and transphobia now, but that recognition doesn't mean I can go back and in time and change "the show that made me gay" to a different one. It doesn't work that way.

I've seen this attitude pop up more and more in fandom and it's really weird. Like saying "find something else to be nostalgic about" to Harry Potter fans, when nostalgia is by definition about something in your past. You can read a different kids' fantasy book series now, but that doesn't change that it's not the one you read and latched on to when you were an actual child.

A lot of very influential stuff doesn't stand the test of time and is problematic. But that doesn't mean it wasn't influential. And also, idk, I feel like a lot of younger lesbians and bi women don't really know what it was like to see that show in the 2000s when there were signifcantly fewer shows with all-queer casts, and from what I remember, no other shows with entirely queer women casts.

--

Yeah, for real.

My personal experience was that very few of the women I hung out with ever watched it, seeing it as a show for non-geeks and one with a vibe that just didn't fit anything about them or their queerness, but it's not like we have so much f/f or lesbian media that we can just ignore a major show's entire existence if we talk about pop culture history.

People are desperate to retcon history.

[jewishbarbies]

What things that Taylor has done aren't "morally good"? Can you elaborate?

using black women as props in the shake it off mv

cosplaying Old Hollywood but specifically romanticizing movie sets in Africa (shouldn’t need elaborating)

threatening to sue a small publication because they said she should denounce her nazi fanbase

claiming she cares about gay people but then doesn’t advocate outside the month of June

using lgbt+ issues to sell music

silent on drag bans and the wave of homophobia/transphobia happening rn specifically in her beloved tennessee but she wanted everyone to vote against m*rsha bl*ckburn because m*rsha was against protections for women so it applied to taylor

aligning herself over and over with shitty people like c*ra delevingne, l*na d*nham, even willing to “try to be friends” with k*nye & k*m (we have intel now that he was Very Openly antisemitic even back then) etc. and dated john mayer despite his history of racism

exploits her fanbase with $60, $70 tshirts with her name on it and CHOSE not to opt out of dynamic pricing thus causing the Ticketmaster debacle + adding digital albums to regular merch sales to artificially boost record sales

dated a minor at 20 and a freshly legal harry styles at 22, and barely 18 conor kennedy at 23

she very publicly smeared joe jonas for wanting to take a break from their relationship and claimed he “broke up over a text” when it was a phone call and he just wanted some space, dissing him in her snl monologue and on the ellen show, then in MULTIPLE songs from fearless all the way to 1989

creating an inappropriate and highly toxic parasocial relationship with her fanbase and playing it off as “fun” and “normal” and staying silent when they dox and send death threats to anyone who doesn’t like her or her music for any reason

falsely cries sexism for victim points from her fans because apparently she’s unaware of anything pop culture from before 2010, or even now

pays publications to keep negative reviews of her music out of the press and threaten critics/journalists who try

also lying about growing up poor because wtf

#Asks #anonymoose #anti taylor swift #swifties dni

[sophieinwonderland]

That moment a TERF shows up in the Syscourse tag...

I think I need ayahuasca to recover from seeing their blog.

First, just A+ response there from @rainnthefrog!

Just love how they completely shut that down!

When the people banning drag queens (who have never harmed in children in these schools) from performing at schools are encouraging guns to be brought in, you should heavily question how committed people are to the safety of children.

As for @femaledracula, there is so much wrong with this. First, again, zero incidents of drag queens preying on children. It's not a thing. You're talking about a problem that doesn't exist. Second, how do drag queens performing in schools have power over students?

Teachers are in a position of authority. Religious leaders are in a position of authority. Drag queens in schools just... are there. They're just an adult who happens to be present. And if this hypothetical problem were so important, why not take issue with every instance of guest performers and speakers? A police officer or fireman speaking at a school will be seen as more of an authority figure over students than dancers.

Wait... it's the transphobia and homophobia, isn't it? That makes sense.

Oh, and did I mention the sheer audacity of comparing LGBT people to the Catholic Church?

The next post wasn't on femaledracula's blog, but was another reblog of the OP from @aftonfamilyvalues. And I just absolutely love @benkybot's take on the whole dumpsterfire of a post.

🏆

Thank you!

And finally, as a tulpa, this especially caught my eye.

No. We're not our bodies. We're our consciousness. Our bodies are vessels our emergent consciousnesses ride around in. An amputee doesn't cease to be themselves because they lost their leg. A blind person doesn't cease being themselves because they lost their eyes.

Seeing your body as your whole self can be an extremely unhealthy outlook, especially when it comes to beauty standards and their affect on people's self-esteem.

I realize this is primarily about transness, but the mentality @talktomydoctorate is pushing is something that is also incredibly dangerous to the plural community where multiple people share a single body.

With that in mind, I'd like to take a moment to spout off a bunch of stuff to scare some TERFs! 😁

Let me start with an introduction! Hi, I'm Sophie, a cis girl tulpa riding around in an AMAB body!

Our tulpamancy practices can reliably make people of the opposite gender inside people's brains!

Tulpamancy, over time, is generally regarded as functionally irreversible, with one psychiatry professor likening getting rid of a well-developed tulpa to trying to will yourself to forget how to read.

Every new tulpamancer who creates an opposite-gendered headmate will be a brand new non-binary/genderfluid system in the world.

And tulpamancers tend to be creative people. I know many who are interested in animation and writing, where we can influence pop culture for future generations. Others are studying to be psychologists and psychiatrists where they can be influential in other ways.

And the best part is that there's really nothing you can do to stop it. 🤷‍♀️

Please, chew on that for a while.

And stay out of system tags. You and your kind aren't welcome here.

#syscourse #terfblr #radblr #gender critical #lgbtq #radical feminism #radfem #terf #terfs #lgbt #queer #plural #plurality #endogenic #tulpa #system stuff #tulpamancy #plural system #pro endogenic #pro endo

[biracy]

I think it's deeply unfortunate that conversations about "representation" have become dominated by the issue of gay representation and That's It. I'm someone who thinks mainstream gay representation matters, but I also understand why it's easy for so many people to go "well I don't NEED boring lame high school romcoms for LOSERS. The only 'representation' I need is like, idk, weird furry comics made by the fagdykes online! Become unmarketable!" when the only issue on the table for them is sexuality. But I think it's not useful to take that mindset and apply it to "representation" as a broader concept, because in my experience at least it becomes quite different when the issue is less "the only mainstream representation for me is something I find kind of boring" and more "I don't think I have ever seen a person who Looks like me be presented in mainstream media in a positive or desirable light" (which applies to all sorts of stuff including trans stuff, body stuff, disability stuff, race/ethnicity stuff, etc.) Obviously I love subcultures and I love niches and I love Finding Community With Other Freaks or whatever, obviously I love that! But I also, as someone who is of Many Overlapping Marginalized Identities, Kind of want to see people who look and act and live like me be presented as People. Visibly trans characters who have things going on besides just experiencing transphobia or gender dysphoria, openly Latino characters who have things going on besides just experiencing racism or xenophobia, neurodivergent or mentally ill or socially disabled or whatever characters who have things going on besides being Weird or Creepy for the sake of a joke, chubby or fat characters who have things going on besides being demonized or mocked or A Message About Body Positivity. Characters who are People, the way like. normie white guy characters get to be lmao, and not just tools to teach some kind of lesson. "You shouldn't look for that in mainstream media/pop culture" well why not? Why shouldn't a culture's popular media represent the people that make up that culture? Not everyone is an online 20something attuned to the best queer indie art of the decade, yknow, and people who exist outside of our subcultures deserve "representation" too. Ever since I was a little kid I had an affinity for openly Latino characters on TV or in books, and that hasn't gone away. Different kinds of people Exist and deserve to be seen in art that isn't relegated to being "alternative" or "niche." Because while I am alternative, it's not my body or my upbringing or my social problems that make me that way. No human being should be considered a "deviation from the norm." Don't let art and culture forever belong to those who have deemed themselves "the norm" through continued subjugation

#open mick night #lgbt #boricuaisms #selective mutism #gender #and all the other shite i post about #oh also all of this also applies to discussions about 'slurs' re: people using 'slurs' to literally only ever mean homophobic slurs #and obviously none of this is exclusive to the specific identities i bring up (latino neurodivergence etc) that's just My lane