Me Time
My Project 2025 (hat tip to Saeed Jones)
Well, 2025 is having what can only be described as an inauspicious beginning. On a global note, there's terrorism in New Orleans, a wingnut blowing himself up in a Tesla tank, fascists gaining ground in Austria and Germany (sounds way too familiar), and, of course, our own slide into (pick your political term) oligarchy, autocracy, Christian nationalism, etc.
On a personal note, my wife's mother--my beloved mother-in-law--passed away on January 1st after a steady decline that went on for months.
Lots of people are feeling discouraged and focusing inward, tired of fighting for justice and supporting leaders who end up in defeat.
Hey, I get it. It's tempting to throw in the towel and just tend our own gardens. Maybe that's what some people need to do right now to feel like they have some semblance of control when everything externally feels like it's never gonna change.
I've decided instead to chart a different course this year inspired by a poem read by Saeed Jones at an event I attended for the American LGBTQ+ Museum. Jones thanked his friend Maggie for suggesting that we steal a page from that heavy tome of hate called Project 2025 (the photo I've included is SNL's Keenan Thompson at the DNC who called Project 2025 "a document that could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time").
So, here's My Project 2025:
Guiding Principle: don't take on everything. Bite off only what you can chew.
The number of issues, people and communities that will be impacted are too many to count. But no one person can deal with all of them effectively. So, I've chosen to focus on 3, prioritizing two that are aimed at those populations most vulnerable.
Transgender adults and youth: I'm directing major donor level support to trans organizations that are engaging in litigation and policy advocacy and that are providing financial support to help trans adults and youth leave hostile places and seek gender affirming care. So far I've supported Advocates for Trans Equality, a national organization, and the Trans Youth Emergency Project at the Campaign for Southern Equality. If you have additional suggestions, let me know.
Oppose deportations: they're aiming at birthright citizenship so they can deport undocumented parents and their American citizen children. As a Jew, the idea of people being rounded up into camps and deported is, let's say, a bit triggering. I want to work to oppose that and am waiting to see which groups will be organizing on this issue. If you have suggestions, let me know.
Focus locally: I joined my neighborhood Democratic club and will be volunteering on the campaign to elect my state senator, Brad Hoylman-Segal, a gay dad and member of my synagogue, as Manhattan borough president. Brad's a great guy and a productive and smart elected official. I'm excited to help him move up.
That's My Project 2025. I hope you'll consider creating one of your own. Unfortunately, there are many options to choose from.
Here's hoping 2025's arc begins to bend toward justice.
Sapphic Lit and Other Book Stuff
Five Wishes for Writers in 2025 – Writer Unboxed
But instead of focusing on the nitty-gritty, practical aspects of becoming a better writer, today I’m offering a more inspirational take: I want to tell you what I wish for you, a writer, this year.
My 2024 Year-End Review: Most Notable Publishing Industry Developments | Jane Friedman
Here’s a recap of the issues and trends I find most notable and meaningful as we move into 2025.
USA: A New State 'Freedom To Read Act' Bans Bannings of Books
A gradual effort to block book bannings in the United States gets another boost as New Jersey’s new anti-banning bill is signed into law.
How Authors Are Using Substack To Sell More Books | Medium
Why Substack?
Because of its unique model that combines 2 in 1:
A newsletter A social media platform With Notes added to the mix, Substack now operates just like any other social media platform, and you can get a lot of engagement and drive tons of traffic.
Bluesky Is Amazing For Writers. Another Place To Build Your Empire | by The writer's path | Behind The Words | Nov, 2024 | Medium
There are two feeds of particular interest to writers.
9 Differences Between US and UK English for Writers - Writer's Digest
These are some of the most notable differences between US and UK English to be aware of
The Ripple Effect: How to Weave Plot with Character - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
A satisfying story does two things at once. It sweeps us into an absorbing plot while simultaneously easing us into the vicarious experience of a character’s inner transformation. Plot events shape the character’s options, and their choices then create new situations—a self-perpetuating cycle of action and reaction that creates the story.
Writing the Author’s Note for a Novel | Jane Friedman
The inspiration or your personal connection to the story
All the Ways to Tell a Picture Was Made With AI | Lifehacker
Most AI art online is circulating without a clear label warning users the images are not real. In lieu of that, these tips can help you spot these fake images when they pop up in your feed.
Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey Want To Read Books and Eat Snacks With You | Autostraddle
The PANTS Pod Book Club is Allstora’s sole sapphic-focused faction, and Moennig and Hailey are stoked about uplifting lesbian authors. They declared their intentions for the project in an announcement video: They’ll be picking books that made their hearts skip a beat,” “whether it’s a raw memoir or a compelling piece of fiction,” and then taking that reading experience, bringing it into a shared space, and talking it out. Their first pick is How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? by Anna Montague, a “heartfelt and hilarious” story about a 70-year old therapist realizing her feelings for her dead best friend were more than platonic. For a limited time, it’s just $1 to sign up.
5 of the Most Beautiful Bookstores Around the World — Daily Passport
The most stunning shops around the world are located within grandiose architectural landmarks and contain magnificent memorabilia and décor to awaken the senses and inspire creativity as you peruse the aisles — or curl up in a comfy chair to escape into a title that’s caught your attention. Here are five beautiful bookstores you won’t believe exist.
News You Can Use
In 2024, The Word “Lesbian” Was So Back | Them
the recognition that celesbians are getting is reflective of a broader cultural embrace of the word throughout queer spaces after years of stigma associated with trans-exclusionary radical feminism (TERF). It has perhaps never been more apparent that TERFs don’t own the word “lesbian,” and that their small but noticeable influence over the use of the term is slipping.
The Rise of Sapphic Stars in 2024: Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish and More - The New York Times
Across music, movies, social media and podcasts, a celebration of lesbianism and Sapphic queerness has been flourishing.
20 Iconic Sapphic Pop Culture Moments of 2024 | Autostraddle
declaring ourselves at the very forefront of cultural production. In April, Cosmopolitan magazine suggested 2024 was ‘the year of lesbianism’ in an article boldly headlined, The lesbian pop culture boom is in full swing. Buckle up! In September, Vogue Australia asked if we needed to talk about the “lesbian renaissance. In June, Rolling Stone christened 2024 Sapphic Pop’s Banner Year.
Marriage equality champions Bonauto, Wolfson receive Presidential Citizens Medal
Bonauto and Wolfson received the award — the second-highest civilian honor behind only the Presidential Medal of Freedom — for their work fighting for marriage equality in the United States in the years before the Supreme Court established nationwide marriage equality with its landmark decision in 2015. They formally received the awards alongside other honorees at a White House ceremony on the evening of Jan. 2.
What Is a “Lesbian Boyfriend?” | Them
. From butch husbands to dyke boyfriends to drag kings to he/him lesbians, the gender spectrum of lesbian identity is too expansive to limit. While these terms have existed anecdotally in sapphic communities for decades, more and more, the internet has been expanding the definition of what it means to be a lesbian today with fresh language.
What If The Girl You Made Out With On New Year's Eve Becomes Your Wife? | Autostraddle
You keep doing it because it is fun and exhilarating, actually. You could become addicted to this if you let yourself. You push her against a wall, and you yank her to your waist, and you smile and she smiles and it’s dark but your limbs are light. You feel weightless and made of stars. Her blue eyes sparkle with inevitability.
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Being a “Late-Blooming” Lesbian | Them
Anecdotally, I’ve found that there seem to be more women over 30 seeking to date women for the first time on the apps than ever before. I wish this moment had happened earlier, but here many of us are, reckoning with all the awkwardness of this “delayed” coming-of-age.
I.S.O.: Ten to Fifteen Lesbians Over Sixty. Nudity Optional | The New Yorker
The artist Samantha Nye tries to drum up models for a shoot of a female-only “pleasure party” at the Belvedere Guest House, the all-male gay compound.
Older Adults Reveal Favorite Body Changes With Age
"Don't waste time buying into fatphobia and diet culture. It took me a decade to unlearn what had been drilled into my head for my entire life. So much energy wasted on hating the way I looked! Love your body for what it gives you. It doesn't matter what it looks like or what size or shape it is! Learn to feel good about yourself
15 Lesbian Myths, Debunked | Teen Vogue
here are some of the most persistent misconceptions about lesbians. Study up, because we're about to turn those perspectives around.
Rep. Zooey Zephyr and Journalist Erin Reed Wed in Montana - Tagg Magazine
The couple married in a ceremony at the wooden hall at the Missoula County Fairgrounds, surrounded by family and friends who had traveled from as far as Europe to be there. Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, officiated. The event was full of dancing, laughter, connection, and love.
Chloë Grace Moretz Seemingly Confirms Engagement to Kate Harrison
After Moretz turned 27 in February 2024, she shared on Instagram that she is "excited" about what her new year of life will bring.
Ruby Cruz on Joining 'The Sex Lives of College Girls' | Autostraddle
She made her debut in the third season’s sixth episode, “Halloween & Oat Milk,” as Ash, a lesbian freshman at Essex and a love interest for the fierce fellow lesbian freshman Taylor (Mia Rogers).
Kelley O'Hara and Tusk Create a Lesbian Happy Ending in Ripe! | Autostraddle
Ripe! is an enemies to lovers film that combines these same two elements that sapphics have been dying to see on screen: women’s sports and a happy queer ending.
The 51 Best Lesbian Movies to Watch Right Now | Teen Vogue
From classic sapphic films to new lesbian rom-coms and horror movies.
New album features everything we love about BETTY
BETTY has amassed a sizeable following via its connection to “The L Word,” performing on the HBO/CTW series “Encyclopedia,” appearing in an original off-Broadway musical, and playing Pride and women’s music festival events. The newly released “EAT” (hellobetty.com) has everything we’ve come to know and love about BETTY:
Comedian Fortune Feimster On Her New Netflix Special 'Crushing It' and Honeymooning In a Country Where Being Gay Is Illegal | Them
The 44-year-old comedian and podcast host talks her new Netflix special Crushing It, using comedy to reach across political divides, and her honeymoon gone wrong.
Ashlyn Harris Has a Lot To Say About Ali Krieger Breakup | Autostraddle
we’re going to have two versions of this that are going to be very different. And she’s never gonna be okay with my version and I’m never gonna be okay with hers. But we never spoke the same language, which is how we got here.”
Lesbian Connection: How a grassroots magazine shaped generations of queer women
What started with a cross-country road trip in 1973 culminated in a decadeslong legacy of writing by and for women-loving women.
Helpful Tools
How to Delete Your Tweets for Free | Lifehacker
Whatever method you pick, Cyd will start by creating an archive of your tweets, which live in a folder on your computer.
A Terrific Quote
Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.