Good Queer News Just Keeps Happening!!
A roundup of the things keeping me hopeful this week :)
Howdy, lovely people! Originally, I was working on a story today with a roundup of more actions you can take to get involved in the fight for queer rights, and I was collecting some good news stories to include in the intro to that article, but I realized there were just so darn many of them they deserved their own roundup! (Don’t worry, the story about actions will still come out later this week!)
I know the past few weeks have been remarkably heavy, and I hope you’ve been taking the space that you need to grieve, rage, heal, and get back to work. Most importantly: I hope you aren’t trying to do any of that alone. When systems fail us, all that we have is each other. Our fellow human beings. Resist the urge to isolate, to dive deeper into the doom-scroll, to give up, to let the rage consume you.
It’s been an angry January for a lot of us, including for me, and that sometimes surprises people. Ben, aren’t you supposed to be the hope guy? Aren’t you happy all the time?
Girl. Are you looking at the same world I’m looking at? Of course I get angry! Of course I feel grief, and pain, and fear. My work here at Good Queer News, and my joy-oriented philosophy, don’t mean I insist that joy is the only emotion. Being a human who is paying any level of attention means experiencing the whole tapestry of human emotions.
What my joy centered philosophy reminds me is that while anger, grief, fear, and others are critical emotions to let me know when something cannot be accepted, I must keep coming home to joy. Even when that feels challenging, even when it feels frivolous, even when it feels like the rage just keeps coming back, I must ask myself what I need to be able to come home to joy.
If we build a movement entirely fueled by anger, the future we build will be an angry one. I am militant about protecting and maintaining my joy because I am determined to build a future that is gentler and more joyful than the world we’re in today.
How do we do that?
Find spaces to exist outside of the movement. Be a whole person. Have hobbies, read books, go for a walk, EXIST.
Learn how to ask yourself what you need. Learn how to ask for help getting those things. Learn how to offer these things to others. This article might be a good place to start:
Find ways to get involved that align with your passions and your skills. When we can combine making a difference with having fun or using our skills at their peak, we’re so much more likely to find empowerment
Get the heck off social media! Remember: your despair is someone else’s business model. Be intentional with how you’re using news and social media, especially when things feel particularly awful!
Rather than include related pictures this week, I’m going to share unrelated pictures from my life to remind you that even I, an incredibly involved advocate have a full and complete life outside of my work for the movement. I am not an advocacy robot. I am a person!!
Let’s get into the wins!
In the Courts:
The Trump administration has quietly restored tens of millions of dollars of family planning funding to Planned Parenthood after a lawsuit by the ACLU! (Politico)
After RFK cut grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics for speaking out with ACCURATE INFORMATION about gender affirming care, vaccines, autism, and more, they sued for retaliatory attacks on their freedom of speech. Now, 12 million dollars of grant funding has been restored! (AAP)
In the States:
Hawai’i’s new inclusive parentage and family building law has gone into effect, adding protections and easier legal pathways for all the wonderful ways queer people build families! (Kaua’i Now)
State legislative sessions are largely underway now, and are starting off with a bang. Look for your state advocacy organization for ways to get involved!!
Want to support my work more directly? Consider sending a tip of any size through Ko-fi!
Our Allies are Everywhere!
While the Trump admin continues to target trans youth, school districts are saying hell no! (Erin in the Morning)
Philanthropist Mackenzie Scott has made a 45 MILLION dollar donation to the Trevor Project!! After being devastated by federal budget cuts and grant terminations, this is a lifeline to an organization that plays a critical role in uplifting queer and trans youth. (The Trevor Project)
Ricky Gervais—a notable anti-trans comedian—won a golden globe last week for his latest special. Since he wasn’t there to accept the award, Wanda Sykes accepted the award on his behalf and thanked “God and the Trans Community” (LGBTQNation)
Plain old Wholesome
Inspired by the hit TV show Heated Rivalry, Hockey Player Jesse Korteum has come out as gay! Here’s hoping the impact of this show keeps skating along and that HBO is forced to ACTUALLY LET US HAVE A SECOND SEASON OF A QUEER TV SHOW!! (The Advocate)
When one of the members of the JPOP group “XG” (XtraordinaryGirls) came out as transmasc nonbinary, the group supported them fully and has changed their name to XtraordinaryGenes and is excited for the future of their journey! (LGBTQNation)
What else did I miss? Let us know in the comments what Good Queer News you’re celebrating in your country, state, town, or personal life! Nothing is too small!
That’s all I’ve got for you today, but more hopeful actions to come later this week!
All my love, as always,
Ben
I think it every single time, but I had to comment!! Your good news is a breath of fresh air! Your tone is very grounding and honest at the same time and I love the mix of world and personal good news! Thanks for your time and effort!
Goodness! You are such a great writer.