Dear fellow human beings,

If you’re not worried right now, you’re not paying attention.  The two months since the election have confirmed that this American administration will be the most reactionary, racist, and far-right in nearly a century.  

But if you’re only worried right now, that sucks.  Most importantly, for those of us not at immediate physical risk– white folks like me, cisgender folks like me, documented folks like me – our friends and family who are at such risk need us.  But our loved ones also need us to not fall apart.  We need each other.  

THE ARC OF JUSTICE
For Chelsea Manning

Dear Mamas,

WE ARE IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT

Yemaya Asesu, Asesu Yemaya … Yemaya Olodo, Olodo Yemaya …

Mama Yemaya — with all of your fierceness as the goddess of the ocean, we ask you to be gentle in this moment, for the women and children here at your shore praying for safety, for your protection, and for your love and guidance … because

WE ARE IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT

Dear Young Seeker

I am writing my letter to the revolution to you and to you specifically because you are that rare creature, the seeker. You do not really feel comfortable in any group, you do not have an identity made up of 7 adjectives that box you into a group with both the privileges of “Belonging” and the mental suffocation that comes from belonging to a such a “‘group”.

New Years Eve 2016

Dearest,

At the other end of the night
there will be a band playing
songs only you know I like
and there will be cake
-yellow cake with pink icing.

There will be a fallen tree
covered with moss to sit on
or even lay down on
if the mood strikes
and most likely it will.

There will be no reason not to relax except a desire for some other
diversion.

The air will be fresh
and only slightly humid
-just warm enough
to make your skin glow
and rise to my touch.

Oh, dear—

Somehow on that night I found myself alone in the park, looking up at the stars yes the stars were beautiful that night we don’t usually see the stars at this time of year in rainy Seattle and something came running up maybe I screamed?

(Content/TW: Discussion of racist and ableist violence, mentions of sexual violence)

Dear fellow organizers, activists, rabble-rousers, and rebels,

Dearest Alicia, Caroline, Angel, Luna, and Sascha,

Dear Incredible Solutionaries,

December 27, 2016

My dear beloved trans community,

As the year 2016 comes to a close, I am reflecting on our community’s history of struggle, resilience, and love. The coming years promise to bring new challenges, and it is easy to despair over what might lie ahead for our community. But I am writing to you to offer a message of hope.