Hey all, my ex-college just fired one of the RDs for having pronouns in her email signature and speaking up that they were closing the Multicultural center & further pushing away students of color.

It's getting some traction on Twitter but hasn't made its way to TikTok so it would be wonderful if people could share there or engage with current videos about it.

[Image Description: A letter posted by thats_soraegan on Instagram, dated April 19, 2023

Raegan,

You previously tendered your resignation advising that you did not intend to return next year. However, as a result of your refusal to remove pronouns in your email signature in violation of institutional policy, and false and defamatory statements attributed to you in the recent Star article, please be advised of the following:

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Nancy Stanley

Associate Director of Human Resources

End Description]

Linked above is the article the letter refers to. I've quoted the relevant passages below.

"Women’s Area Coordinator Raegan Zelaya remarks that while she understands the reasoning behind closing the Mosaic Center, Houghton–as an institution–can’t claim to value diversity if we aren’t doing everything we can to safeguard and develop it.

'If anything,' Zelaya writes, 'it feels like it just further demonstrates that the university is only interested in the kinds of diversity that are convenient for marketing purposes. It is outrageous to have diversity as a pillar in our strategic plan when we are actively cutting the programs and spaces that help empower diverse students to succeed.'"

(via 10 Reasons Why You Should Use Storygraph vs. Goodreads)

Every year readers everywhere track their reading with online resources such as Goodreads. While other contenders have popped up throughout the years, none have gained the recognition that Storygraph has, putting it to be a top contender.

Storygraph has almost everything Goodreads has and then some. So here are ten reasons why you should use Storygraph instead of Goodreads.

I love that in tumblr people aren't famous. Posts are. It's due to the fact that posts are made by the contribution of several blogs. I just think this is neat.

I don't mean it as "There are 0 famous people/blogs here" but as "We have more famous posts than famous people" and principally "someone can have a very famous post without having a popular blog"

It’s never a bad time to donate to wikipedia, but some times are funnier than others. If you’re a fan of spending small amounts of money to spite musk’s Twitter choices, think about it. https://donate.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:LandingPage&country=US&uselang=en&utm_medium=portal&utm_source=portalFooter&utm_campaign=portalFooter

(via Review - Anne: An Adaption of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of))

Rep: sapphic main character and wlw romance.

I received this graphic novel as an ARC and I thought it was absolutely adorable! Anne of Green Gables has always been a story close to my heart and this is a modern, queer retelling that really brought a lot of joy to me while still staying reminiscent of the original story.

If you’re interested in purchasing this book, the hardcover version of this book is expected to be released February 1st, 2023. The paperback and kindle versions should already be available to the public.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How to Use the Queer Book Master List

I have created a master list of queer fiction books which can be sorted and filtered by your preferences.  However, many have asked how to use it - so I have created a quick guide below!

This is not like google sheets - any filters you create will only be shown to you and will disappear when you exit that screen. So feel free to mess around! I promise you won’t ruin anything.

Step 1: Open the database

Step 2: Select the “Create Your Own Filter” view on the left-hand side.

Step 3: Click “filter” on the top bar.

Step 4: Input any filters you would like to organize the files by. The screen will automatically update with books that fit into all of your specifications.

Link to the master list

Reminder, if you think I am missing a book, there is also a submission link where I can review & add to the main list!

Don’t forget to submit a book if you think it’s missing from the list! 

I know I don’t have all of the indie & self-published authors, so if you’ve written a queer book, feel free to add it! Any information will at least give me a starting point. 

How to Use the Queer Book Master List

I have created a master list of queer fiction books which can be sorted and filtered by your preferences.  However, many have asked how to use it - so I have created a quick guide below!

This is not like google sheets - any filters you create will only be shown to you and will disappear when you exit that screen. So feel free to mess around! I promise you won’t ruin anything.

Step 1: Open the database

Step 2: Select the “Create Your Own Filter” view on the left-hand side.

Step 3: Click “filter” on the top bar.

Step 4: Input any filters you would like to organize the files by. The screen will automatically update with books that fit into all of your specifications.

Link to the master list

Reminder, if you think I am missing a book, there is also a submission link where I can review & add to the main list!

Thank you to the person who submitted like 7 books. Not sure who you are, but I really appreciate it! I also added in many of the changes you suggested (in fact, they already were on my side of database, I just had forgotten to add them for the submissions!)

Huge thank you to everyone submitting. It really is so helpful! You don’t have to be the author to submit, but also, if you are an indie author who writes queer books, here’s a good place to list them!

Well, after today I officially had to upgrade to a pro-plan, at least for now! Good thing is, it will sync more often with the main database I created (which is what I edit & add submissions to once verified) so submissions should show up sooner! 

The bill, passed unanimously in the Duma, prohibits “any event or act deemed to promote homosexuality-online, in film, in books, in advertising or in public.”

In Russia, the workshops I teach would be illegal.

I stand with Russian LGBTQI people.

saw someone in the tags asking if there’s an organization they can donate to:

russian lgbt+ network is one, for example. unfortunately your donation won’t help to shut down this bill (it’s pretty much obvious at this point that’s it’s going to be passed, state duma voted for it unanimously despite thousands of letters and complaints sent from lgbt people and allies from all over the country), but it does provide psychological and legal help for the many, many lgbt people who for various reasons can’t or don’t want to leave the country.

now there’s also canadian organization rainbow railroad that helps getting lgbt people out of countries where they face legal persecution and/or death for their sexuality (rainbow railroad were among the ones who were getting people out of chechnya during the infamous anti-gay purge that started in 2017 and is pretty much still ongoing)

Alright I’ll make the college post.

A lot of you are going to college now and I would say:

Please question everything that’s being sold to you, including credit cards and loans. Credit card companies target college freshman with astronomical APRs. Loan companies also target you. Some of them might be on your campus during your orientation. They’ll lure you in with a “free prize” wheel or a free hat or whatever. Don’t do it. They want to keep you under their thumb for 20+ years.

Be critical of Greek life. Sororities/Fraternities usually charge fees per semester. My sorority ended up being very toxic. I was hazed; you will likely be hazed as well. I made friends outside of it by joining clubs or just chilling with people in the food court. Not all Greek life is like this but a lot of it is.

Don’t pay $300 for a textbook that you can find online. A lot of the time an “updated” version of a textbook will just have a few words changed or the chapters switched around.

Check ratemyprofessors before you sign up for a class.

Take advantage of office hours.

Don’t overload yourself. Don’t take 20 units in your first semester. Your life is about to change. Please don’t do this to yourself. Take 9-15 units and see how it goes.

I have more to say but I don’t want to make the post super long. Just wanted to share some of my thoughts.

^^^^

All of this is great advice!

I know Broose didn't want this post getting long so I'll just add this one itty bit: If you want to change your major, do it. I've had 6, I'm a 5th year senior, it's not the end of the world if you change your mind I pinky promise.

Your school will have a buy & sell group for textbooks, I guarantee it. Make that the first thing you look for. Never sell your books back to the bookstore; you'll get peanuts and they just sell it back full price. Both you and the person buying your book on the group will win.

If you don't know which direction to go with your courses, ask faculty. It's also good to be in contact with them if you do decide to change your major or specialization.

Having a credit card is super useful but you do obviously have to be wary of banks trying to pull you into debt. Ask if there are student cards with no annual fee and low interest rates and use the card sparingly to increase your credit while keeping an eye on your finances.

If you live off campus, spend extra time at school. Do it. You make friends by being in places. Go to lounges or clubs or computer labs or study rooms. Postsecondary is a hard time for everyone and having friends is wonderful.

(Review - Meet Cute Diary)

Representation: Achillean trans MC who is attracted to multiple genders, Achillean LI, nonbinary/GNC LI who uses neopronouns & is an androphile.

I am genuinely surprised that Drew asking Noah about if he ran the Tumblr blog didn’t go like this: Drew: “I like your shoelaces” Noah: “Thanks, I stole them from the president.”

you heathens will reblog day specific posts any day of the week. i woke up thinking it was wednesday

happy wake up thinking it was wednesday sunday

i'm AWARE this is a stupid hill to die on, but like. trope vs theme vs cliché vs motif vs archetype MATTERS. it matters to Me and i will die on this hill no matter how much others decide it's pointless. words mean things

trope: 1) the use of figurative language for artistic effect; includes allegories, analogies, hyperbole, & metaphors, among others. 2) commonly reoccurring literary devices, motifs, or clichés. Includes things like the medieval fantasy setting, the Dark Lord, enemies-to-lovers, and the Chosen One.

theme: the reoccurring idea or subject in a work of art. Death, life, rebirth, change, love, what it means to be human, the definition of family, the effects of war, etc.

cliché: an element of an artistic work that has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, even becoming annoying or irritating. (Most clichés are tropes but not all tropes are clichés.)

motif: a distinctive repeating feature or idea, such as the green light in The Great Gatsby. May overlap with tropes and is often used to further explore the theme.

archetype: a constantly-recurring symbol or motif; it refers to the recurrence of characters or ideas sharing similar traits throughout various, seemingly unrelated cases in classic storytelling. E.g. rags to riches, the wise old mentor. Again may overlap with tropes, clichés, and motifs, but they're not the exact same thing.

i legit overheard this when i was in class

kakashi: (muffled voice) how do i save my file teacher: what? i cant hear you kakashi: (takes off mask) how do i save my file

Who is kakashi

kakashi from accounting class

i saw kakashi in accounting class

(via Review - Some Girls Do)

Representation: lesbian MC & bisexual MC (dual POV).

Openly gay track star falls for a closeted, bisexual teen beauty queen with a penchant for fixing up old cars? I thought this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, after reading so many fantastic sapphic books this year, this one just fell flat.

Weeks later and not a lot is memorable about this book except for some of my dislike for the characters. (I guess I’m in the minority here, but I actually really disliked Morgan and liked Ruby).

2.5/5 stars

Representation: sapphic MC & sapphic LI.

I read this book in May for a reading challenge and I’ve put off writing a review until now, even though I actually reread this in July. I’m just afraid I will never do this book justice.

Why is it so hard to write a review about a book you love?

Travis Baldree has written perfection into a book. Perfection in a world without homophobia and that fulfills many of our queer cottagecore dreams.

The first time reading this I fully intended to just read a couple of pages to get me started. Instead I finished it in one sitting and could not put it down. The second read was just as good and this time I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Travis Baldree himself.

If you play Minecraft for the bees, if you’re the type of person that plays D&D for those small interactions, for owning your own tavern or if you’re the type of person who plays Elden Ring to pick the flowers… This book is for you.

If I’m ever not recommending this book, please make sure that I am breathing and/or have not been kidnapped and replaced by a doppelgänger.

Read more of this review on my blog! Review - Legends & Lattes

psst. click on the review link and follow my wordpress blog! also featured on my website, some glorious fanart

"But helping poor people should be voluntary."

And even when it is, people still have a problem with it.

The district has since accepted his offer. The debts are eliminated.

It's important to note that Luzerne County C&Y was NOT involved with the threat of foster care and the school board got its ass chewed out in public for that stunt. Foster care was never in the cards, ever.