From Surviving to Flourishing: New Hub Pages

As I look at all the things going on since, and even before, November, I have a Hulk-sized amount of rage that we’re dealing with these politics again, instead of making this country the forward-thinking nation it could be. There’s grief and exhaustion in the mix, too. I didn’t think we’d be doing the 80s again mixed with some of the 50s, but here we are. 

Whatever we’re feeling, it’s okay to be feeling. It’s okay to hold our feelings with a lot of love, or if that feels too hard, at least acknowledgement of the way we feel. Don’t be fighting yourself over the assholes in the world. Let that energy move in and through you. Let it draw you to sources of power, whether that’s other people, historical knowledge about queer and trans culture, or enjoyment of modern queer and trans culture. Because there are a lot of beautiful things to be found. 

We have been here since the dawn of humanity itself. (Actually, it was probably before. I’m looking at you, bonobos.) We will always be here, no matter what happens. 

But we don’t want to just be here—we want to connect, protect, enjoy, appreciate. We want to move beyond survival and start to flourish. If it feels good to you, add a piece of queer/trans culture to your day today. Maybe a video, a song, part of a story, or a conversation with someone who loves you for who you are. You deserve to feel joy and connection. 

Here are some culture suggestions from Ashton. There are many, many more than this, but these are some of my favorites when I feel struck by current events: 

• HRC’s 2023 National Coming Out Day video 
• Androgynous cover by Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett & Laura Jane Grace
• The Owl House on Disney Plus 
• Roja short story by Anna-Marie McLemore 

Moving from surviving to flourishing is why we’re working on adding new hub pages to this site. These hubs each cover a different intersection of queerness, transness, neurodivergence, disability, and/or storytelling. They will include bits of culture, resources to learn more about that topic, and posts we make in that intersection. We hope that these hubs can provide an easy, accessible way for folks to learn more about the communities and identities important to each of us. You’ll be able to find some of our favorite queer/trans resources on the Queer & Trans Lit page in the near future!