like and subscribe for more nefarious yuri

[parachute opens up to reveal it is rainbow]

The counter-argument: Not having UBI is in the interests of those in power who want to do anything to the people they are in power over in order to remain in power.

Black Deaf Culture Through the Lens of History (BASL and ASL-centric)

Understanding Deaf Culture by Paddy Ladd (which can also be found on archive.org)

Many Ways to Be Deaf: International Variation in Deaf Communities

the British Deaf Association website

directory for Deaf Australia’s “Our Deaf Ways” video podcast (presented in Auslan with audio from an interpreter and accurate closed captioning for all episodes)

The Irish Deaf Community by Patrick A. Matthews

Breaking the Silence: The Education of the Deaf in Ireland, 1816-1996

the Canadian Deaf Culture Center website

History of Hawai'i Sign Language and Hawai'i Deaf People by Barbara Earth, with Linda Lambrecht

the op linked the study in the replies & i’ve been skimming it & it’s actually rlly rlly interesting to think abt

And I rarely see those same people having that energy towards the abusers being talked about. If anyone is “making the community look bad” it’s 100% the people who choose to be abusive.

Victims and survivors are allowed to tell their stories. For a lot of survivors breaking that silence is a huge part of being able to move on. And it’s absolutely vital that we don’t sweep abuse under the rug because it’s uncomfortable to admit.

Since most people who are going to come across those posts and be convinced of what they're saying are themselves part of the trans community, they're being groomed to accept that abuse is something you let happen and shut up about when it happens within the community.

Which is not something most trans people believe, but it's easy to buy into when you genuinely care about (other) trans people and you've seen queerphobes use accusations of abusive behaviors against us as a group and also individuals.

But think about those cases you heard about on the news of TERFs making accusations, really think about them. How many were sexual assault accusations? Very few.

There have been more credible accusations, usually from other trans and otherwise marginalized people, than false accusations by far. We know this to be true.

Not because trans people are more likely than cis people to be abusers or assault someone, but because this is true across the board. False accusations are rare, even against marginalized people.

Hysterical bigoted white women are not, in masses, falsely accusing BIPoC men and trans women of rape. That's a misogynistic belief that does a great job selling rape culture ideas to progressive people.

If you join a community and are told not to believe victims and that sweeping things under the rug is necessary for the safety of the group, that's an abusive environment steeped in rape culture and you should not be a part of it.

That attitude doesn't protect trans people as a whole, it protects abusers. In the majority of cases, the ones who will get hurt and left carry the pain alone in secret and shame will be other trans people.

A community that protects abusers and expects silence from victims to protect their collective image/reputation is not safe. It can't be. Not when it's the family system you were born into, nor a religious group, friend group or any sort of community.

Please listen to victims. Protect your fellow trans people. Just 1 person being allowed to freely abuse others is enough for an entire community to suffer. Please read this blog post if you still aren't convinced:

so many responses of “its nice that you’re privileged enough to be able to steal from Target willy nilly!” and that’s not at all what this is about. like, yeah, shoplifting and loitering and graffiti and breaking the rules is, obviously, part of “do crime”. but they’re not parts you have to do.

would you help someone get an abortion where it was illegal?

would you help a trans friend get healthcare that had been criminalized?

would you shelter someone fleeing persecution, even if the law said not to?

would you help a gay couple stay together when the state decided their relationship was unlawful?

instead, would you report someone else for breaking the law? will you snitch on your hungry neighbors for stealing food? on your homeless neighbors for sleeping where they’re able?