And the media continues to downplay the numbers whenever we show up. Just a quick perusal shows reports of "Thousands" or "Tens of thousands" rather than the correct TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND.
It's to be expected. Mainstream media = corporate media. While some individual journalists and other news personnel may have integrity and left-wing views, when all is said and done, the purpose of these organizations is profit. The Jeff Bezos Post is a particularly egregious example, but they're all like that to some degree (and I'm not even counting the right-wing ones here). And corporations don't give a shit about us - or anyone who isn't one of their higher ups or a wealthy shareholder.
This is indeed great to hear. The Hungarian government will probably come after the mayor of Budapest with bogus charges. But if the crowd included many non-LGBTQ+ people who took advantage of the parade to express their anti-government views, as some observers suggest was the case, then this could be the start of a larger movement to end the decade long authoritarian grip of Hungary's leader, Victor Orban, a darling of MAGA influencers like Bannon, Carlson, and Miller. Regardless, as you suggest, Erin, it is important for us all to take advantage of our right to free speech while we still have it.
I’ve just returned to my car after the small Hilo Pride Parade . . . while there I felt recharged. I was also heartened by all the Trans and other LGBT youths I saw.
Fascists are correct to hate and fear we Trans and queer folk. Our very existence is reminder, a promise from the universe that it is and has always been in love with the diversity of form, thought, and love itself, and that self-determination and individual liberty are the natural children of that love.
Fascists cannot STAND this and that's why they hate science, hate nature, and worship only dead gods, dead ideas, and defunct philosophies better left to the ash-heaps of history along with thumb screws, oubliettes, the auto-da-fé, the Inquisition, concentration camps, gulags, matrimonial chattelization, slavery, Geheim Staat Polizei, Sluzhba Venesheye Razvedki, goose-stepping, the 300 am knock, censorship, book burning, burning people at the stake, military gangrapes as an extension of policy implementation and force projection, terminal stage predatory laissez-faire brutalitarian robber baron crony capitalism, and the insane belief that all of biology is somehow rigidly defined by an immediately discernable, visible, and incontrovertible sexual and gender dimorphism just as the editors, transcriptionists, and propagandists purveying Bronze Age fairy tales have been saying without the slightest examination of reality and empiricism for three thousand years because it's the grift that keeps on giving.
When we stand up and declare "Yet we LIVE! Yet we ARE! As we have always BEEN!", we queers and Intersex and gender expansive humans illuminate the threadbare lies of the imperium-fellating authoritarian numpties and expose them for the weak sauce con artists and professional liars they are, and when we reject their politics of domination, subjugation, assimilation, and extermination, we shine a long light down the hallways and galleries of future history, revealing that WE are there, so far hence from NOW, but THEY are NOT.
Fuck yeah, Hungary! That's a hell of a parade you've got there!
Hey Democrats... if Mayor Karácsony can stand up to a fascist who's already made himself a dictator, then y'all can stand up to a fascist who's still only 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 to become one. Just throwing that out there.
While these outpourings in various countries continue to and are wonderful
Trans people have a long way to go to get the full recognition deserved Trans in the US will have to continue to make voices loud and stand up against trump and the Supreme Court
Importantly Hungary *isn’t* a federal system - it may be better to say “central” government. Orban and his ilk have more power over the regions of Hungary than the president does over states in the US
Wow--go Budapest! These sorts of displays are wonderful and important. I went to deep red Kentucky's pride yesterday. A lot of people and vendors despite the sweltering weather.
They can make life terrible for us. They can imprison and even kill some of us. But they can't get rid of us. We have always been here, and we always will be. We're part of the human condition.
This article made me cry, Erin; thank you. May the courage of others remind us that we are not alone in these dark times. Strength and courage to us all.
Born and raised in Budapest and I have never been prouder of my city, my culture and my fellow Hungarians (and all those who came to stand with us.)
Take note those who seek to disappear us. Your bans may as well be printed on the backs of the invitations to march, rise and resist!!!
And the media continues to downplay the numbers whenever we show up. Just a quick perusal shows reports of "Thousands" or "Tens of thousands" rather than the correct TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND.
It's to be expected. Mainstream media = corporate media. While some individual journalists and other news personnel may have integrity and left-wing views, when all is said and done, the purpose of these organizations is profit. The Jeff Bezos Post is a particularly egregious example, but they're all like that to some degree (and I'm not even counting the right-wing ones here). And corporations don't give a shit about us - or anyone who isn't one of their higher ups or a wealthy shareholder.
This is indeed great to hear. The Hungarian government will probably come after the mayor of Budapest with bogus charges. But if the crowd included many non-LGBTQ+ people who took advantage of the parade to express their anti-government views, as some observers suggest was the case, then this could be the start of a larger movement to end the decade long authoritarian grip of Hungary's leader, Victor Orban, a darling of MAGA influencers like Bannon, Carlson, and Miller. Regardless, as you suggest, Erin, it is important for us all to take advantage of our right to free speech while we still have it.
I’ve just returned to my car after the small Hilo Pride Parade . . . while there I felt recharged. I was also heartened by all the Trans and other LGBT youths I saw.
Love Hilo!
Mahalo!
Fascists are correct to hate and fear we Trans and queer folk. Our very existence is reminder, a promise from the universe that it is and has always been in love with the diversity of form, thought, and love itself, and that self-determination and individual liberty are the natural children of that love.
Fascists cannot STAND this and that's why they hate science, hate nature, and worship only dead gods, dead ideas, and defunct philosophies better left to the ash-heaps of history along with thumb screws, oubliettes, the auto-da-fé, the Inquisition, concentration camps, gulags, matrimonial chattelization, slavery, Geheim Staat Polizei, Sluzhba Venesheye Razvedki, goose-stepping, the 300 am knock, censorship, book burning, burning people at the stake, military gangrapes as an extension of policy implementation and force projection, terminal stage predatory laissez-faire brutalitarian robber baron crony capitalism, and the insane belief that all of biology is somehow rigidly defined by an immediately discernable, visible, and incontrovertible sexual and gender dimorphism just as the editors, transcriptionists, and propagandists purveying Bronze Age fairy tales have been saying without the slightest examination of reality and empiricism for three thousand years because it's the grift that keeps on giving.
When we stand up and declare "Yet we LIVE! Yet we ARE! As we have always BEEN!", we queers and Intersex and gender expansive humans illuminate the threadbare lies of the imperium-fellating authoritarian numpties and expose them for the weak sauce con artists and professional liars they are, and when we reject their politics of domination, subjugation, assimilation, and extermination, we shine a long light down the hallways and galleries of future history, revealing that WE are there, so far hence from NOW, but THEY are NOT.
OF COURSE they hate us.
They're too weak to do anything else.
Brilliant, Jaimie. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this! Great bit of writing the rage and the declaration!!
Fuck yeah, Hungary! That's a hell of a parade you've got there!
Hey Democrats... if Mayor Karácsony can stand up to a fascist who's already made himself a dictator, then y'all can stand up to a fascist who's still only 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 to become one. Just throwing that out there.
Great challenge... Dems still have chance to defeat fascism but only if they fight!
While these outpourings in various countries continue to and are wonderful
Trans people have a long way to go to get the full recognition deserved Trans in the US will have to continue to make voices loud and stand up against trump and the Supreme Court
Wonderful piece! Exactly the sort of spine-stiffening we are all going to need.
Importantly Hungary *isn’t* a federal system - it may be better to say “central” government. Orban and his ilk have more power over the regions of Hungary than the president does over states in the US
Wow--go Budapest! These sorts of displays are wonderful and important. I went to deep red Kentucky's pride yesterday. A lot of people and vendors despite the sweltering weather.
They can make life terrible for us. They can imprison and even kill some of us. But they can't get rid of us. We have always been here, and we always will be. We're part of the human condition.
And more power to them!
And to us here!
This article made me cry, Erin; thank you. May the courage of others remind us that we are not alone in these dark times. Strength and courage to us all.
I am moved to say, that I Love You! All of you here. You are so very loved and supported by this Mama of a beautiful trans child ❤️
This is a wonderfully inspiring event to read about this weekend!
Thanks for all you do Erin!!!