Celeste Irwin 🏳️‍⚧️

I hope it helps you! It went well for me!

Remember when he said he could shoot someone and not lose a vote?

a man and a woman are looking at each other with the words " there is always hope " on the bottom ALT: a man and a woman are looking at each other with the words " there is always hope " on the bottom

But for trans people, including kids, in blue states? There are still strong reasons for hope. And we have to hold on to what hope we have, and let it drive us forward, even if we're not sure when we can win or what we can win or even if we can win.

But there is always hope.

It *should* be better, across the country. We're going to lose on conversion therapy and trans girls/women in sports in June. And we lost Skrmetti. And for trans kids born in red states, to conservative families, it's a nightmare and I grieve that.
8/x

Even in Newsom's California, I have a non-binary kid being respected in public school. Robust gender-affirming care is being covered by my Affordable Care Act insurance plan. I walk around in public, visibly trans, without being harassed or threatened.
7/x

In the meantime, 20+ state AG's keep filing suits to protect trans people and doing the right things in their own states. At least half the country still fully supports trans people (and even a year or two ago that was 60%+; it'll bounce back once we're not the demonized group).
6/x

I truly believe Trump only won in 2024 because Biden hung on so damn long. If he'd let a primary happen, or even given Harris more than 3.5 months, it's a very different campaign and not one where Harris effectiely froze with indecision for the last two months.
5/x

The R's have no replacement cult leader for Trump. No one else has the reality distortion power that he does. They may try Vance but pretty much everyone else (Cruz, Rubio, DeSantis) have already proven that they are losers in a pres campaign.
4/x

But taking either one ends Trump's ability to legislate anything. Yes, he'll try EO's, but those are both harder to enforce (many have gone down in the courts) and much easier to repeal (day-1 for a new president).

Then we pick a solid candidate who can win in 2028.
3/x

It starts by winning either the house or senate this fall. Literally either one. House can impeach, but there's not much reason to. Winning the senate at *least* stops the bleeding in the judiciary, and also gives a higher baseline to build on in 2028.
2/x

Right! This time last year, we were told by so many that there would never be free and fair elections in America again. All MAGA has done since then is lose at the ballot. And there's every reason to believe that will happen again this fall (and MAGA leaders sure seem to think it will).
1/x

Yes - there are shenanigans going on in various voting rules (e.g. the new postmark date policy will make mail-in ballots more difficult). But I truly believe we can overcome that.

As for your personal decision - I'm so sorry, and support you in making a tough call.
2/2

Please don't despair. MAGA just got crushed in the November elections and has been losing over and over basically since Nov 2024. Many R's are retiring rather than lose this November. MAGA is sure acting like this fall's elections matter, and I very much believe they do.
1/2

Yes, this is a repost - the original had an ambigouous "it" which was referring to the piece, but could have been read as referring to the author, and I'd never want to do that to them!
3/end

The sports issue Should trans women compete in women's sports?

For my own thoughts on trans women in sports, and more of an analysis of the issues, see my 2023 post here:
2/3

www.celestefinally.com/p/the-sports...

Supreme Court transgender athlete cases FAQ: What to expect The national debate over transgender athlete participation will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Here's what you need to know.

Really appreciated this piece by @katiebarnes.bsky.social. They did a great job with a tough assignment! I appreciate that @espn.com chose someone who would be fully respectful to trans people, which has become all too rare in media.
1/3

www.espn.com/espn/story/_...

Wow, yeah, that’s such a bad take by Brynn 😭

This is irresponsible. For people who can't leave, or those of us who are standing up for what's right, this encourages hopelessness and despair. Some people will give up on life permanently. And it will be because of things like this being said. It's not over by a long shot.

Screenshot of Ann Taylor website saying "Thank you; Please allow 10 business days to process your request."

"it may take several days" to process an unsubscribe request has always been dumb, but the audacity to say it will take TEN DAYS to stop sending emails is quite something.

(in Hamilton cadence): "They won't teach you this in your classess, but *look it up!* donkeys used to be asses!"

And Mochyn, happy to help if I can!

Wow thanks, Ryan!

ughhhhhhh. Well, I typically use Apple Maps anyways. Not that any big tech company is somehow ethical.

Been off bluesky for a bit and just saw this and *YES* y'all are amazing! Love you all! 💜💜💜

wait what did waze do?

It’s just wild that every month, we have a new group/person/company coming out like, “woke is dead. Here’s a straight pride shirt” and then two months later they reappear and say “we lost all our money. Here’s some woke”

I'm a little than normal, but here is your yearly reminder

Do not support Operation Christmas Child!
It's a terrible program that does far more harm than good.

If you want to do something that does good, find an organization and donate to it directionally.

Badly summarized notification: "Taylor Lorenz tortured for speaking out."

Actual podcast title: "He was Tortured in an Israeli Priosn for Speaking Out"

Apple's new notification summarization the other day gave me a real scare for @taylorlorenz.bsky.social (of course, her actual topic should still scare and anger us!).

"We didn't start the fire" was fun back when I was in high school, but at this point I've realized that if his generation didn't start the fire, they sure as hell poured kerosene all over it.

And also, I enjoy piano man, italian restaurant, and plenty of others.

Welcome - we've all been there!