#queer creativity

This is day one of Queer Creativity, where I highlight some of my favorite pieces of queer media (movies, books, songs, ect.). It's just a silly idea I came up with but I would love to see if it's smth people would enjoy:)

For day one, I'm going to shout out probably one of my favorite horror books of all time: Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White!

Summary: The book follows a trans teen named Benji on the run from an apocalyptic cult. He ends seeking shelter up at an LGBTQ+ center, trying to hide his ties to the cult and the bioweapon that's slowly mutating him into a deadly monster.

It has mystery, a sprinkle of romance, and hardcore horror that had me highly enthralled.

We’re putting together We Name Ourselves, a zine celebrating selfvariance, plural systems, alterhumans, microidentities, and all the ways we experience identity.

This zine is a safe, creative space for exploring and honoring identities that are rarely represented or understood. And will be digital and free, at first.

We’re looking for:

Art (drawings, comics, digital art, photography, etc.)

Writing (poems, short stories, reflections, essays)

Personal experiences or reflections about selfvariance, plural systems, alterhumans, or microidentities

Other creative expressions that celebrate or explore identity in all its forms

Submission guidelines:

Please send your work as a digital file

Keep content safe for the intended zine audience; trigger warnings are welcome

Include your name/pen name (or stay anonymous) if you’d like credit

How to submit:

Send your submission to this account, or add it at the end of this Optional Questionaire!

Today I have another book, and one I think is fairly underrated; This is The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

Summary: Every decade, 10 Gold semidióses (half mortal children of the gods) are selected to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. The winner of the trials brings fuel to the sun god Sol, who keeps the evil Obsidian Gods at bay, while the loser gets the honor of being sacrificed for Sol. Teo, the trans son of the Goddess of Quetzals, never expected to join as a Jade semidiós; but when both he and Xio, another Jade, are selected, he must figure how to survive the 5 trials against his more powerful counterparts

It's a super fun fantasy with a neat world based in Mexican mythology and a truly enjoyable main character. I'm also such a sucker for avian characters and unique world building, of which this book has both.

This is the album A Thousand Songs About It All from Elio Mei

ATSAIT is Elio Mei's most recent full length album. It consists of 12 tracks all with varying degrees of what I (delightfully) describe as upbeat clown whimsy. His songs all relate to the struggles of burnout, social expectations, and a performer- in every sense of the word.

A lot of them, with varying degrees of subtlety, discuss identity and the struggle of being queer. Pretty much every song touches on this, but the most upfront (and some of my personal favorites) include One Man Circus, Speak of the Devil, At Least I'd Be a Cowboy, and My Name.

I understand that their music may not be everyone's cup of tea, and that's totally fine; however, if you are curious, I fully recommend it. It's a fantastic album, and now more than ever it feels important to support trans and queer artists:)

Today's highlight is the graphic novel Nimona by ND Stevenson!

Summary: Supervillain Ballister Blackheart teams up with chaotic shape shifter Nimona to prove the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics- and especially Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin- aren't the noble heros they claim to be. Lots of science, found family, dragons, and mysterious pasts

While not entirely explicit throughout, the book deals with lots of queer themes, including internalized homophobia, found family/community, and metaphors for gender struggles. It's a very endearing, bittersweet story with a unique and captivating art style.

There is also an animated movie on Netflix. The movie is a lot different than the book and follows PG rules, but it still follows a lot of the same themes and I personally adore it too:)

Fill out our anonymous questionnaire -- it’s quick, safe, and your responses will help the zine reflect the diversity of lived experiences.

📌

I've mostly been doing books so far, so today we're switching it up with one of my favorite movies ever: I Saw the TV Glow

Summary: Quiet teenager Owen lives a lonely, shelled off existence to himself. But this all changes when he is introduced to Maddy and her favorite TV show: The Pink Opaque. Owen and Maddy become obsessed, watching it and talking about it exclusively, developing a friendship along the way. But as time goes on, Owen's reality begins to crack, and he wonders: why does the show feel more real than real life?

This movie... Wow. With as little bias as I can say, this might genuinely be one of my favorite pieces of media ever. Its representation and metaphor for being queer- especially trans- is so raw and real. It's so masterfully done and literally had me sobbing at parts. I love the sort of still horror of it all- it doesn't jumpscare you, only fill you with unease and dread. I know I can't speak for everyone but I know a lot of people can agree it's brilliantly relatable in a surreal way