Some preface: My husband and I are trans and lived in Nebraska all our lives. The state has always been very conservative, but the latest governor has brought a religious fervor to his policies that is very scary. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the state attempts to outlaw transitional medical/wellness care in the future, so we both sought a way out. I was thankfully accepted into a PhD program at my top choice school in Minneapolis, and we moved here last June. We're both really happy and relieved in many ways to be here, especially since we have friends and family (plus my MIL is seeking to move here in the future, too!). Going to not one but two separate Pride events, the first month we moved in, was phenomenal--the community here is huge and welcoming and vibrant.

If you live in the US you're probably more than aware of where this is going. Last week a woman was gunned down by ICE, on a street I regularly drive down and live like, 5 minutes away from. If you've seen some of the footage released, you might have seen a huge T-rex in the background--that's real, and there's a second one on the exact same stretch, and those decorations bring me and my husband a lot of joy whenever we go down Portland Ave. Now it's like the air all over town is heavy. I had to do some errands the day after it happened that I couldn't wait on, and it just felt wrong with how "business-as-usual" things felt in the grocery store/pharmacy and such. I've been in desperate need of a haircut and was going to finally get it done last week, but I knew I wouldn't be able to compose myself during the usual small talk part of getting your hair cut.

Anyway. Times are weird and scary. I feel good seeing people out protesting and demonstrating, and feel very hopeful generally. But it's just a very somber and sobering moment in the US right now. I just wanted to get some thoughts into the air, since my journal ain't cutting it for me lately lol.

💖 💖 💖 I've been sending resources out to the twin cities, it really seems like the whole area has activated and is doing what they have the capacity to do. Stay safe out there!

Thank you for your support and well wishes! It's genuinely inspiring to see the community come together.

My sister moved to the twin cities last summer as well (from the South) and is feeling similarly. It's really scary... these are some pretty dark times. Sending you and everyone in the area well wishes. 💛

No adequate words for what's going on right now. Terrifying and infuriating barely begins to describe it. I don't know how much we can talk about it on here anyway, but in any case, I just wanted to say I hope you guys stay safe! This tyranny has to stop one way or another.

<3 and solidarity from Seattle