1/26/24 - 1/29/24

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* "World Court says Israel must prevent genocide in Gaza, stops short of ceasefire order:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-braces-world-court-ruling-focuses-attack-south-gaza-2024-01-26/

* Verified charities to help Palestinians: https://cleolinda.tumblr.com/post/737312194805612544

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* "Biden administration creates $700k grant to create inclusive sex ed for trans male teens:" https://www.advocate.com/health/trans-boys-sex-education

* "Border standoff between Texas, feds intensifies as governor defies Supreme Court ruling:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/border-standoff-between-texas-feds-intensifies-as-governor-defies-supreme-court-ruling

* "Walmart engaged in illegal union busting at California store, U.S. agency says:" https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-engaged-illegal-union-busting-182620662.html

* "Proposed funding deal will be deadly for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/lgbtq-asylum-seekers-deadly-deal

* "Senate Democrats urged to reject anti-LGBTQ+ measures in funding bills by coalition:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/advocacy-groups-demand-democratic-support

Democrats held firm for us in all the negotiations last summer. The deluge of calls reminding them why they need to protect them worked.

However, it might be a good idea to contact your senators just in case.

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.
Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

* The Indivisible Guide: "A Practical Guide to defeating MAGA:" https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/20220104_Indivisible_%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Defeating%20MAGA.pdf

* Early voting has already started in a few places.

Democrats: South Carolina votes 2/3/24

Democrats: Nevada votes 2/6/24

Republicans: Nevada votes 2/8/24
Republicans: Virgin Islands votes 2/8/24

Know your state's schedule and where to vote. Make sure you and your friends are registered. If you are voting in person, plan how to get there.

If you live in an open primary state consider voting strategically. Otherwise, vote your heart in the primary. Remember how all those votes for Sanders and Warren pushed Biden and the party platform further left?

Remember to vote in all the races, not just the top of the ticket even if it's in a separate primary. Who runs congress, your state, and your local government really matters. In some states this is a separate primary. Check the rules for your state.

Never, ever sleep on a chance to vote.

Remember, it is always better to vote for someone who will listen to us than to let someone who is actively trying to kill us.

* "Assembly lawmakers pass 14-week abortion ban Evers has vowed to veto:" https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/01/26/assembly-lawmakers-pass-14-week-abortion-ban-evers-has-vowed-to-veto/

* "GOP Lawmaker Thinks He’s an Abortion Expert Because He’s a Veterinarian:" https://newrepublic.com/post/178471/wisconsin-republican-lawmaker-abortion-expert-veterinarian

* "GOP lawmaker claims he's ‘qualified’ to ban abortion because he's a veterinarian:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/gop-lawmaker-claims-he-s-qualified-to-ban-abortion-because-he-s-a-veterinarian-203061317913

* "Maine Democrats bail on bill making state sanctuary for trans people amid far-right uproar:" https://www.advocate.com/news/maine-gender-care-bill-fails

* "Missouri Republicans add trans bathroom ban to 'parents' rights' education bill:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/missouri-republicans-trans-bathroom-ban

* Republicans are out legislating in favour of child abuse. "Bill weakening child labor laws in Florida clears major legislative hurdle:" https://www.wptv.com/news/political/bill-weakening-child-labor-laws-in-florida-heads-clears-major-legislative-hurdle

* "Kemp plans to make it tougher for workers to organize, form unions in Georgia:" https://www.wabe.org/governor-kemp-wants-to-make-it-tougher-for-workers-to-organize-in-georgia/

* I get where she's coming from, but I think cutting queer kids off from information and support is always bad, but in this age of censorship and books bans so much worse. "Out Florida lawmaker defends bill banning kids from social media:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/out-florida-lawmaker-defends-bill-banning-kids-from-social-media

* "Homophobe Matt Gaetz is being investigated for sex trafficking and lobbying violations by the House:" https://www.advocate.com/matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-lobbying

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* "Trump ordered to pay $83.3M for defaming E. Jean Carroll:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/26/trump-trial-jean-carroll-defamation-verdict-00138171

* "E. Jean Carroll jury slaps Trump with penalty big enough to hurt:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/e-jean-carroll-jury-slaps-trump-with-penalty-big-enough-to-hurt-203068997914

* "E. Jean Carroll attorney: Trump verdict proves 'your lies' catch up to you:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/e-jean-carroll-attorney-trump-verdict-proves-your-lies-catch-up-to-you-203061829620

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* As usual, the U.S. is not sending it's best people, but rather, it's worst. "The MAGA Truckers Are Back—And Heading to the Border:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-maga-truckers-are-backand-heading-to-the-border

* "Alabama man shook violently on gurney during first-ever nitrogen gas execution:" https://apnews.com/article/nitrogen-execution-death-penalty-alabama-6d66344d3199f8c58f2408baa3df0738

* "Brown, Yale, Columbia among latest to settle financial-aid lawsuit:" https://www.reuters.com/legal/brown-yale-columbia-among-latest-settle-financial-aid-lawsuit-2024-01-24/

* "Oklahoma superintendent faces blowback for putting Libs of TikTok creator on library panel:" https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-education-superintendent-walters-libs-tiktok-raichik-4db2bcb9d8e0582f67329f6879bdf6ba

* "Watch dildos dominate discussion during Moms for Liberty MSNBC interview:" https://www.advocate.com/media/tiffany-justice-obsessed-dildo

* CW: Harassment. "Kansas transgender prison employee sues over alleged gender identity harassment:" https://www.advocate.com/law/kansas-transgender-prison-supervisor-lawsuit

* "Over a third of US adults never received sex education on gender identity, study finds:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/25/sex-education-usa-news/

* Once again, America lets down our veterans. "Trans veterans were promised access to gender-affirming surgeries — but it never happened:" https://www.advocate.com/health-care/transgender-veterans

* "Texas AG Ken Paxton won't leave trans people alone, again requests data from out of state:" https://www.advocate.com/texas-ag-paxton-georgia-trans

* "Ohio families request emergency funds to flee state after trans care ban passed:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/24/ohio-families-emergency-funds-trans-care-ban/

* CW: Rape. "Raped, pregnant and in an abortion ban state? Researchers gauge how often it happens:" https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/24/1226161416/rape-caused-pregnancy-abortion-ban-states

* "What does pansexual mean, and how is it different from bisexual and polysexual?:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/24/what-is-pansexual-meaning-flag-definition-define-bisexual-difference/

* "LGBT History Month 2024: Here’s why the UK and US celebrate in different months:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/26/lgbt-history-month-2024-uk-us-date-theme/

* ...And he's already walking it back. Sigh. "Pope Francis: Blessings for same-sex couples are for the people, not the unions:" https://www.advocate.com/religion/pope-francis-blessings-same-sex

* "Man sentenced to 48 years for the murder of a Black trans woman in Maryland:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/25/taya-ashton-maryland-usa-sentencing/

* CW: Rape. "San Francisco man convicted of poisoning, raping, and murdering young man adopted by gay couple:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/san-francisco-man-convicted-murder

* "An LGBTQ+ nonprofit in North Carolina was broken into and robbed over the weekend:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/lgbtq-nonprofit-north-carolina-burglary

* "Adoption discrimination ‘holding back’ potential LGBTQ+ families in US:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/25/lgbtq-people-foster-children-gallup/

* "The CDC finds discrimination puts trans women at higher risk of HIV:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/25/trans-woman-risks-health/

* "The latest on an HIV vaccine:" https://www.hivplusmag.com/prevention/latest-hiv-vaccine

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* I didn't really recover from the Thursday torture appointment until Sunday, and it took a stupid amount of bedrest to get there. I kept getting the shakes trying to do the exercises Friday and Saturday. One of the things I literally couldn't get my arm in position to start Friday. Saturday, I was able to hook it into place with my other hand and hold it in start position for a 15 count stretch which is as good as it was getting without Beowulf pulling a Grendel on me.

Meanwhile, news has been piling up on Klaus laptap as I struggle to keep my head above water and out of bed long enough for basics.

I did manage to do all eighteen twice (if you count the stretch as doing an exercise), Saturday, but it cost me a lot. Sunday I did manage three sets. I am concerned about how Wednesday physio, but onward we must go because what I take into surgery is the range of motion ceiling on the arm for the rest of my life. Tick Tick Tick sigh.

I asked Goth Millennial to make a cardboard decoy laptop to distract Tavy from his attempts to kill Klaus. Livia was initially terrified of it, so I can't sit it in Klaus' old spot if I want her to feel safe out here. I have set it at right angles instead, which is less alarming for her while she gets used to it. Meanwhile Tavy has started gnawing on it, so at least he has a new project. we'll need more time to see about effectiveness.

The second of the surgery shirts my Aunt funded arrived. It is marked the same size as the more generic one that is a tent, but is actually the exact right fit for me. Not ideal for post surgery, but large enough if someone is there to dress me, and it means I now own four shirts I can wear for medical appointments and such while convalescing. I plan to wander around the apartment just in boxers for a lot of this, because that's far better than having to figure out how to get in and out of shirts everyday.

I love this octopus shirt. It is beautiful and goth and pride flag coded. I was not prepared for the cuteness of the squids up close.

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* People have been asking for ways to help trans people in West Virginia, given the scary shit going on there. So far this organization is suggested. I'm keeping an eye out for more ways to help. If you have suggestions, please let me know. "Fairness West Virginia:" https://fairnesswv.org/donate/

* To track more general LGBTQIA+ Legislation: https://www.lgbtmap.org/

* An organization for the parents of trans youths: https://transparentusa.org/

* "2024 Trans Girl Scouts To Order Cookies From!:" https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/2024-trans-girl-scouts-to-order-cookies

* "Tell your Representative to Support Rep Tlaib's Resolution for a New Streaming Royalty:" https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-your-representative-to-support-the-resolution-for-a-new-streaming-royalty/

* "World Central Kitchen:" https://wck.org/

* Verified charities to help Palestinians: https://cleolinda.tumblr.com/post/737312194805612544

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

( Links Underneath: )