Queer Writers RESIST! From China, Germany, Ukraine, India, to the UK & US
Prism & Pen Weekly Digest, 12 January 2025
by James Finn
Resistance! For queer people of all stripes and for anyone else who abhors the cruel conservative wave sweeping the globe, resistance has never been more morally and practically critical. As the wealthy and privileged do their damndest to crush marginalized people they perceive as inconveniencing them, Prism & Pen writers focus on fighting back and sharing our expertise and knowledge.
The tide will turn toward decency once again, and the more of us who fight to make that happen, the faster our hope will will light an unquenchable fire.
Join us for storytelling featuring queer people who will never stop resisting!
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* P&P Highlights *
Am I the Right Kind of Gay and Trans for You?
We LGBTQ people often hear from people who aren’t LGBTQ that we talk about our identities too much.
It may not be meant as a personal remark about us or anyone at all. The person who’s saying it may have no specific incidents in mind. They may be talking about a book they haven’t read, so to speak. Yet they leap to a generalization, and they recommend a course of action…
Well, we could ask the same about the anti-LGBTQ movement, couldn’t we? If they’re clear on the fact that we’re human beings, why are they working overtime to force us back into the closet? Why do they talk so much about our identities? Why suddenly in the 2020s are they passing so many laws against us?
This Film Documents the Struggles and Resilience of a Chinese Trans Woman
The last time Li Ermao appeared in front of the camera, she was holding the breast implants that had been removed after her surgery. She remarked that the implants had been with her for many years, and now, her body felt empty and unfamiliar.
She joked that she had turned back into a man, trying to reassure herself that once she recovered, she could finally go swimming at the beach. Behind her weak smile, an undeniable sense of helplessness lingered. She said, “Most people only get to live one life, I live two lives. It makes up for it.”
How Queer T-Shirts Became Powerful Tools of Identity and Activism
When I moved to Massachusetts for college, one of the first things I packed was [my “legalize gay”] t-shirt. It signaled to others what I stood for and what I rejected.
Graphic tees were also a solid dating tactic in the Before Grindr (B.G.) Era.
Every cultural group has a history of using t-shirts as entry points to who they wish to be. But for queer people, graphic tees take on an especially important role: …
F for Frau: On the Policing of Women’s Bodies in Germany
He hesitates, then delivers the line that shatters the fragile air around them: “We believe your primary genitals are male.”
Ally blinks, the words not registering at first. “What?”
He hands her a document. It’s dense with official language, but one part stands out: “If there is still any doubt, the guest … may voluntarily provide proof of their primary sex characteristic in order to clear up any misunderstandings.”
He softens his tone, as if offering her a favor. “Now, we’re not allowed to ask directly, but if you believe we’re mistaken, you can… clarify.”
How You Can Support Your Trans Students Without Losing Your Job
With the full bore assault on LGBTQ+ kids, teachers need to decide how to respond. At the same time, non-teachers need to decide how to support those teachers who will be putting themselves at risk…
I know something about the problems teachers face trying to support their LGBTQ+ students. Several years ago I was almost fired for putting up a Pride flag in my classroom. I took it down when the System Superintendent showed up with a cop to give me that order.
The cop was there to escort me off the premises if I refused.
Sometimes Resistance Means Rest
We need to resist the kind of parochial thinking that says we can separate these issues and deal with them individually because, really, they’re part of the same persistent, toxic whole.
We need to resist blaming the “other” and the victim, to resist directing our anger wherever the media and politicians tell us to.
Most of all, we need to resist the temptation to retreat into cynical nihilism; we need to resist giving up.
I’m mainly speaking to myself with that last one, but maybe you needed to hear it, too.
The Old and the Young — Memories of My Age-Gap Gay Romances
And thank god, as soon as I walked in the door, there was my friend Cliff, greeting me with a welcoming smile that instantly melted the tension off my shoulders …
As I recounted the night’s misfortune, he thought I was talking about a tall blond I met at a celebrity’s mansion a few weeks prior, who made me feel like Cinderella at the ball. This made sense, because the last time I saw Cliff, I had to dash off early to visit that Prince Charming in Silverlake.
Then and now, Cliff said — “Don’t expect too much from a 25-year-old.”
* From the Editors *
Let’s Write Tales of Resistance: Queer People Need These Stories Right Now!
Our Resistance writing prompt continues into the new year. We need ALL your stories!
With Donald Trump about to take office, and even “leftist” media organizations like Bluesky suppressing queer stories in “anticipatory obedience” to fascism, all of us queer people and allies need to freshen our memories. Queer people my age and older in the U.S. have many tales to share. Many of us participated in successful direct action, civil disobedience, and other forms of resistance.
We all need to hear those stories again as we brace for a return to tyranny and the probable rise of fascism.
* This Week’s Essays & Creative Non Fiction *
Joy is Radical, a Form of Resistance for LGBTQ People and Others
I’m reminded of the 1984 film Footloose, an allegory in which a small Midwestern town declares rock music and dancing illegal. Of course, city elders justify this draconian measure by explaining that it’s meant to “protect” young people from sin and temptation.
In their eyes, one indulgence primes the pump for more, far worse indulgences. Let those heathen punks cut a rug and, before you know it, impulsive, hormonally charged adolescents will be smoking those crazy cigs, getting naked, and fornicating in the streets.
Refusing to Hide: My Trans Journey of Resistance
The first time I stepped out of the car and into public view wearing obviously feminine clothing, I felt both exhilarated and terrified. My heart raced as I crossed paths with strangers, their glances lingering just a moment too long. I didn’t look how I imagined a woman “should” look — not yet, at least. But there I was, head high, lip gloss shining, and handbag swinging by my side. In that moment, I knew: this was my resistance.
Now Is the Time for ‘Dirt Road Queers’ to Resist Constructively
This gay Ohioan living in a conservative rural county believes it’s time for rural queers to move beyond post-election despair. We must proudly embrace our identities as LGBTQ+ individuals living in rural America and recognize the resilience we possess to navigate the challenges we face. It is time to embrace being ‘dirt road queers.’
Honesty — Coming Out Even When It Hurts
Charlie was — in so many ways — the perfect boyfriend. He was caring, kind, and handsome. Attentive, charming, and disarmingly sexy. His hugs felt like sitting in front of a cozy fireplace, and the sex, when we eventually got there, was electric.
He had swagger for days, a devastatingly genuine smile, and was an absolute marshmallow behind closed doors.
But he was also the first person I told that I thought I might actually be gay.
A Famous Closeted Gay Spanish Poet Inspired Me to Choose Joy Over Sadness
Federico García Lorca, who was born in 1889 in Spain, wrote many “Deep Song” poems. Many people don’t recognize Federico Garcia Lorca as an LGBTQ poet. His homosexuality was something he struggled with throughout his whole career. Occasionally, it appeared in his work, but it wasn’t an identity he could proudly share.
As an article from The Independent explains, “For decades, Spain’s literary establishment, and even his own family, refused to acknowledge that the country’s best-loved poet, Federico Garcia Lorca, was gay.”
Canadian Queers Lose Our Strongest Ally
I am sad when I consider how strong Trudeau’s support for 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians has always been.
He is the first Canadian Prime Minister to march in a Pride parade. He was the first world leader to appear on RuPaul’s DragRace. He has given speeches declaring his unwavering support for us, and decrying the anti-queer backlash. His support has caused some homophobes to wonder if he might be gay, as if you cannot be an ally without being queer yourself.
I Had No Way To Help My Gay Sailor
“Now, lieutenant, I know why this kid has a problem, and you know why this kid has a problem, and I don’t see why it’s the Navy’s problem. Certainly nothin’ that this office is going to fix. You are, of course, welcome to go over my head, lieutenant, but I don’t see that’s goin’ to make life easier for this kid in the long run. If you get my drift.” Click.
I told Susan what I’d just been told, and now we were both stewing. Because the chief was right, if we made a fuss, the chief was going to accuse Jones of being gay, using the hemorrhoids as evidence of anal sex, and in 1987 no good could come from that.
When Is It Too Late for Transgender Transition?
I’ve often asked myself: how would my life have changed if I had begun this journey when I was younger? When I didn’t have a family or two kids? When I hadn’t invested so much in my home? When I didn’t already have a close circle of people? And, perhaps most importantly, when my body hadn’t been exposed to testosterone for so long?
I don’t know the answer.
Post-Election ‘I’m Over It’ Claims Are a (not just) Queer Trauma Response
The first thing I thought about upon seeing these comments was the 1998 revival of the musical Cabaret, which is about the fictitious Kit Kat Klub in Berlin, Germany during the rise of the Nazi Party in the early 1930s. The viewer sees the rise of fascism reflected in people who attend this club, particularly through its performances, which become increasingly more anti-semitic and hateful. “But if you could see her through my eyes,” chillingly sings the Kit Kat Klub’s emcee in the second act of the play, “she wouldn’t look Jewish at all” (see If You Could See Her).
A Dangerous Gap in Medical Training Leaves Queer Patients Vulnerable
Back then, I found a biology blog that said over 1,400 animal species exhibit homosexual behaviour. This fact slowly helped uproot a lot of self-hate, as I realized my existence wasn’t unnatural.
This feeling of being an oddity came from the absence of narratives surrounding queer lives in India. Such visibility continues to remain restricted. Any representation in the media was painfully limited to either vilifying or mocking queer lives and lived realities. On the contrary, biology made me realize that the feelings I felt were natural and an innate part of life itself.
Framing Theory: How Trans Americans Got Blamed for Losing the 2024 Election
Of late, trans Americans have felt scapegoated for Democrats’ losses in the recent election. They have every reason to worry that they are being abandoned by the only major political party that has advocated policies of acceptance and inclusion for all marginalized Americans.
Trans Americans, however, are not responsible for these election shortfalls… not in any way, shape, or form.
I Got My Gender for Christmas
Some people get socks for Christmas. Others get gadgets. Me? I got my gender! Legally, officially, and with just a hint of German bureaucracy. It wasn’t wrapped in shiny paper or tied with a bow, but it came with a kind of joy that will give me strength for many years to come.
The Beauty of LGBTQ Authenticity
I know that I can only speak for myself, but I would guess that the process of coming out is not so easy for most of us in the LGBTQIA community. Various levels of coming out evoke various levels of anxiety, fear, and difficulty: to friends, to parents, to family, to colleagues, etc.
But come out we do, and come out we must … because it matters…
I’m Teaching These Queer Graphic Novels in the U.S. South
This column is a plan, a plea, and a part of my desire to make a difference in our society while I still can.
My wife and I were walking our dog the other day and wondering how we can still face our lives in this age of…I don’t know. What is this age? How can we describe or name it? What is its point, its end, and how many of us will be kicked off the bus or be run over during the journey?
Trans Thoughts: What Does Choosing Hope Over Hopelessness Mean to You?
I am not here to argue, but rather I hope to share ideas of what choosing hope means to us! I especially want to know what choosing hope means to other people of transgender experience. So, I will begin with my thoughts.
It seems easy to spiral downwards right now, especially as a relatively young-in-experience transgender woman. I live in Ohio, another state that seems to be in a race to demonize transgender people and promote the weird idea that there is a transgender ideology.
How a Weekend in Paris After a Breakup Changed Everything!
Alright, let me take you back to a weekend that rewired my whole existence — Paris, the city of love, lust, and lessons served with strong drinks and stronger men.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This story kicks off with heartbreak. Picture it: I had a romantic getaway all planned to Madrid to see my long-distance boyfriend of two years. I was all in, even if the guy treated fidelity like a suggestion. A few days before the trip — boom — dumped. And the flight? Non-refundable.
* Fiction *
Maddy Meets Henry, the Voice of Transgender Reason
Maddy had a tough time sleeping.
Thomas had passed out on the couch exhausted from saving the dog from the icy river an hour ago. They were both sleeping next to the fire in the fireplace.
Their Christmas Eve had been completely bizarre and extremely painful.
Hours earlier he had run out of the house after they had the worst fight they had ever had. She had done most of the screaming and he just sat there taking it.
* Fiction Series *
Demons Are Coming Out!
I was too sore and bloody to walk back home, so I sat on the dirt and tried to catch my breath. If you’ve never killed a demon before, it’s not easy. And even if you survive, you’ll have a bunch of bruises and cuts. It’s not pretty.
Todd sat next to me, less wounded but still wheezy.
Zip, ever the annoyance, ran circles around us to show off how much energy he had.
Todd nudged me in the side. “Sorry if I made things harder for you.”
This week’s episodes:
Oh God! It Killed Him! — Part 16
Todd and I Finally Talk About It— Part 18
That’s it for this week!
Courage to all of you! Keep resisting, reading, shining your love, and sending your stories to Prism & Pen.
We need you all!