Howdy, friends. I've been gone so long (like a month) that Tumblr changed the notification icon on me, and though I don't know what it was previously, it wasn't a lightning bolt.
I promised you all if I ever disappeared on here, it's because I've gone ~outside~ to do work in the community, and that's exactly what happened. Here's what I've been doing and what I've learned as both time and politics have progressed over this month.
Actions:
I was security and staff for a trans-inclusive clothing swap in a red area (thankfully we had no trouble).
I've been lobbying my state's representatives by phone, email and in person. I'll never know how much that did, but I do know we collectively got legislation to protect women's rights, prisoner's rights, and gay marriage through the initial phases of being solidified in the state constitution. Good things are happening in some states.
I've been going to meetings of grassroots organizations, established national activism orgs, and my local Democrats. You might cringe at that last one, BUT: My state's Dems are the only reason all the positive legislation got passed.
I have also been working to reform the image and intent of my local Democratic party chapters. I'm currently collaborating with city Dems, Young Dems, and maybe even a state Congressional candidate on pushing us to host open houses centered around teaching local people skills that can help them in the current chaos - fishing, food preservation, clothing repair, basic first aid, etc. I'm selling it to the party as a rebrand that will let us say "Who actually came to help you when times got tough?" in future elections. What I'm actually trying to do is reform the party from the ground up to BE the ones who come to help, and maybe you think it's a fool's errand, but I am getting traction. P.S. If you're looking for leftists, go find your local chapter of Young Dems. I'm trying to work with them in addition to the city party, and God bless them they are always in trouble with the city and state parties for being too far left, and they've told me directly that they're there because "It's as left as you can go in a rural area while still having some institutional support." They call themselves "small D Dems" and that's so fucking funny.
Protests. I have made it to a few protests but not as many as I'd like.
Closet cleanout + planning to help support my local queer center.
Helping fundraise for an art gallery that just put on a radical feminist art show.
Distributing my guerilla literature to break echochambers in conservative areas.
Finding ways to support a family member who just came out as trans in an already transphobic family.
Buying extra groceries a little at a time - not panic-buying for the apocalypse to be clear, but picking up a can/bag or two of shelf-stable items (canned meat, peanut butter, evaporated milk, dried beans, rice, etc.) every time I do my regular grocery shopping in case of future supply shortages OR if friends in danger need to stay with me, so I can feed us all.
What I've learned/come to terms with:
I still have to do joyful, fun things for myself and others. People need it now more than ever, and though a doodle contest might seem frivolous at a time like this, it builds community, helps people through, AND provides an excellent stereotype to play into if anyone ever shows up at my door for my political activities: "Who, me? The small lady in a grandma sweater running the neighborhood doodle contest???"
The best place for me is where I am. I've been fighting the urge to quit my job and find a new one that more directly takes on current events for weeks. But I shouldn't. Because I don't have specialized skills that would be useful to somewhere like the ACLU, but my current job provides me the financial freedom, free-time, access to tools, and flexibility to do all the things I'm currently doing, and which I am unlikely to find anywhere else.
Love you all. Hoping to catch up on asks and messages soon, but I've been pulling 12-hour days, and it's caught up to me. Rest is, annoyingly, also part of the process. Go forth and help your communities. Rest. Repeat.
