All the Nice Queers are Dead
Prepping for a public event always means prepping for potential shitty interactions. I am not, by nature, a confrontational person, but I did decide a long time ago that I wouldn't ever let someone push me into a locker again.
I think a lot about this tweet, it's as timely today as it was back then. That the reason I won't shut up about trans rights, about queer people's existence, about a whole list of other things is because you all got stuck with me. The mean one. The one who's constantly furious at this world. The Steve Rogers who'll always pick themself back up, spit blood on the ground, and say "I can do this all day."
(Let's be realistic though, Cap is FAR nicer than I will ever be.)
Ethical consumption under capitalism is a very difficult thing, but if someone says to you "give me money, and I'm going to use it to fund the eradication of a marginalized group of people" that's a pretty easy line not to cross, right?
And yet, the Harry Potter show is coming out and people are twisting themselves into KNOTS trying to justify watching it. When JKR has said, loudly and repeatedly, that she is using the money to fund her weird little war on trans people. The pipeline is direct, it is obvious, and if you participate in this? * sighs and shakes head * Do not be terribly shocked when the trans people in your life say they don't want you in their lives anymore. We are all so tired of begging people not to support those who want our eradication and frankly I stopped being nice about this a while ago. The door is over there, my boot will be in your ass to help you.
Ugh, KB, why do you always make things political?
I didn't ask for this - for my very existence to be made a thing to debate and enact laws about. All I wanted was to write my books and see my friends get married. Everything is political and if you don't notice that, it's because the balance of power is weighted in your favor.
Let HP go. If you need magical books for kids and adults, here:
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ember in the Ashes by Saaba Tahir
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
The Third Period Comeback by E.K. Johnston
Remember to take care of yourselves and your communities as best as you are able. And come see me this weekend in South Carolina at Read Freely Fest!
Love,
K
Important hockey note: The Colorado Avalanche are 47-13-10 as of the writing of this newsletter.
Currently Reading:
This is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets, edited by Kwame Alexander
The Ganymedan, by R.T. Ester
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
Currently Listening:
Miyazaki - Paris Paloma
Empty - Letdown
Iām about to crack open the new BTS album, we'll see how this goes. š
Where you can find me these days:
Bluesky: @kbwagers.com
Instagram: @midwaybrawler
Discord: @greenskywarning
Patreon: kbwagers