Gina

Help writer and activist Fran Varian survive and obtain life sustaining health care while writing her book about women & the health care system in the US.

In Fran’s own eloquent words:

“I have made peace with the fact that I live with a heart infection that will take my life, even though it will always make me angry that this infection is curable.  And that the wealthiest nation on the planet makes certain antibiotics so expensive people cannot afford them even to save their own lives.  But I’m not quite ready to go anywhere yet.  And a cardiologist can very likely help me manage my heart damage and live a much healthier existence in the present moment… I’m asking for $6500 to live off of for the next year to 15 months.  This would enable me to see the specialists I need to see, find and maintain a relationship with a good primary care provider and maybe access some pain relief in the form of bodywork for the first time in many years.”

Fran, I am angry, too, and I am with you in this fight. You are asking for so little in the grand scheme of things. You deserve this ten-fold, twenty-fold, FIFTY-fold.

Everyone, PLEASE repost Fran’s request and give what you can.

Story Time:

So I had the amazing, weird, absolutely thrilling & utterly wonderful privilege of volunteering for Kate Bornstein’s National Queer Arts Fest shows pretty much every summer when I was a teenager (from roughly the ages of 15-19). Summer vacation didn’t mean, say, Beach Time for me — it meant NQAF Time, and it especially meant Kate Time.

Those volunteer shifts were the BEST education in queer theater I could’ve ever asked for. They are largely responsible for why I do the work in queer arts community that I still do today.

All of that said, this is actually my favorite Kate story:

So, I’m 30 now. I ran into Kate and a few of her friends at Cupcake Royalle when I was in Seattle this summer. She hugged me like an old friend, and we talked about my days volunteering for her when I was a wee thing (I was surprised and touched she remembered me after so many years, honestly). Then she gave me the best cruisey eye I have ever been blessed to receive, and purred “And as your Auntie, can I just say? MY, how you’ve grown!” And then she winked at me.

It was dirty and sweet and pervy and familial and tender and, above all, so, so dear. I will always remember just how much that wink made me grin and blush.

I want Kate to be giving that wink to people well into her hundreds. Just sayin’.

Please donate to my friend Jayvin’s fundraiser to replace his stolen computer, and please spread the word about this campaign. Even $5-$10 donations help. EVERY PENNY COUNTS!

Jayvin is one of my nearest, dearest, and best beloved friends. We met as teenagers, and have known each other half our lives (!). I love him tremendously, and he is responsible for much of who I am today.

I could tell you a lot of awesome stories about Jayvin. I could wax rhapsodic about his tireless activism, his razor-sharp intellect, his wry wit, his great big tender heart, and his delicious mischievous smile. But mostly, I just wanna say this: It is the good and right thing to give back to people who devote their lives to building community and giving generously, as Jayvin has.

I love you, Fluffy. Let’s make this happen! <3

thegreensage:

If you haven’t noticed, my posting volume has been quite of low as of late and here’s why: a week ago, my backpack was stolen out of my friend’s car; my backpack contained my laptop, my TI-89 calculator, and various other effects including my notes for my classes, and my prescriptions for aderall and dexodrine. (The notes included the calculus test I just completed on Monday. Needless to say I was pretty upset and felt pretty stupid.) 

I’m currently in the process of replacing my laptop and doing so with my “GoFundMe” website. While I don’t expect everyone to cover the entire cost of my laptop, the way GoFundMe works, whatever people donate is instantly deposited into a midway account, (with the fee taken out of each donation, instead of one lump sum when I “reach my goal”,) and I can access the funds with or without reaching my goals. 

I am going to give it a week or two before I take whatever’s in the account and use it toward funding my replacement laptop. 

I’m currently raising $1,350.00 to replace my laptop, (with a refurbished Mac like I used to have, and get a copy of the Microsoft Suite for Mac). Even if you can’t donate, please reblog and share with people if you think it’s appropriate. 

Here’s the link for my GoFundMe page: http://www.gofundme.com/Return-of-the-Mac

Thanks,
—J—

I’ve known the amazing Dylan Scholinski for going on 16 years (!). Above all, I have always been awed by Dylan’s immense generosity of spirit and his commitment to building community — especially for queer, trans, and gender-variant youth living at the margins (and I say this having met Dylan when I was 14; I am one of those queer kids whose life he changed). Dylan is just one of the most thoroughly GOOD people I have ever met. He puts his entire heart into every single thing he does. I am so blessed to know him, and so excited for this project. Give as much as you can, people, and please spread the word!

twohandedsaw:

PLEASE SHARE PLEASE SPREAD AROUND PLEASE PLEASE REBLOG

Hi, Internet. My name’s Madison Lynn. I’m a queer trans lady in Detroit and I write a lot of poetry and I’m having a fundraiser so I don’t get evicted from my home.

The short sob story is: the past few months have…

datingdisastersofaqueergirl:

Hey internet,

So I know I just asked you for money to replace my stolen shit, but that was when the worst thing that had happened to me was a jacked laptop. Now I’m asking you for money for a much more serious reason.

On Monday (yes, three days after our house was broken into), one of my close…

This is all scary, but this is great info to have nonetheless (although, boo to putting “brutal” in quotes — c’mon, guys, really?). Otherwise, thank you MissionLocal for being informative & comprehensive!

Also, more info regarding these cases here at SFist (um, again, BOO on sfist for putting “violent” in quotes), and here at MissionMission.

As I said before: I’m praying today for an end to ALL sexual assault & abuse, and for safe streets for ALL of us.

Please consider throwing some love & money towards Handbasket Productions this year! They are by far my favorite smutty employer (I’m in both of their currently available DVDs, Doing It Ourselves and The Genderfellator!) & an excellent emporium of smart smut. Get yourself or a love a video or a zine. You won’t regret it, I promise. :)