May Run Down

May in a single word has been: difficult. I am certain that I am not alone in saying that, as it seems like the whole world is struggling right now. From the political state of the world, to my experiencing multiple medical emergencies, dealing with grief, and friends struggling. It’s difficult to know what to write about this month because it's felt like an onslaught globally, and it's overwhelming. 

Despite the struggles, I am reminded of a couple of things. One is that in the face of insurmountable grief, fear, pain, and loss, the song "Light of Love," which I wrote about last month, is an ever-relevant reminder. The lyrics "I want to look away; I must not look away" continue to encourage me not to put my head in the sand—I am reminded to remain present in a world that sometimes feels like it's on fire. 

The good news is that we aren't alone; sometimes things do feel bleak, but in those moments, that's when it's crucial to rely on community. I know community is brought up a lot nowadays, but don't let that downplay its importance. This month, amidst the challenges, I saw community in action in the most beautiful ways. At 1 in the morning, when I needed to go to the emergency room, a friend with no hesitation got out of bed to meet me, and another friend sent me my favorite meal when I was sick and in bed. A friend of mine needed a place to crash, and I opened my home to them and witnessed their network of friends come together to help in any way possible. I have seen the resistance against Donald Trump and his tyrannical policies, from protests to lawsuits and so much more. There is community and resistance around every corner. 

I'm exhausted and hoping for a kinder June for us all, but in the face of opposition, I am grateful for community, grateful that none of us are alone, and grateful to play my part, however small, in standing up to injustices I see in the world around me. 

Our first edition of hankycode magazine is available now both in print and digital format, this edition is focused on music and entertainment. 

What's inside this magazine?

Feature articles on:

• King Princess, Hannah Pinson & Luca D'Angelo

• Molly Grace

• Eva Pagán

• Justy

Q&A's with:

• Caroline Kingsbury

• Rachel Bochner

• Amelia Day

• Lisa Heller

Submitted pieces:

• Transgender Punk Rebellion by Charles Suor

• Trouser Roles: Forgotten Representation by Sydney Minor

• Beginning, Middle, Never-end: My Short Queer Life, Told Through Obsession by Phoenix Paris

The Deep Blue Okay by Self Esteem 

There’s Your Trouble by The Chicks 

Crowd Caffeine by SOFIA ISELLA 

Soulless Creatures by AURORA 

Godspeed by Erin LeCount 

Which Witch by Florence + The Machine

Because there are so many new people here I wanted to take a moment to share a few of my favorite LGBTQ+ history pieces that I’ve written over the years. 

A Brief History of knitting in the LGBTQ+ community

FBI LGBTQ+ surveillance parallels to anti-trans legislation

Beyond Stonewall 

A brief look at lesbian fashion

Queer community in the early decades of the internet

The search for queer community before the internet age

Looking for mutual aid resources? 

Black Trans Fund - https://groundswellfund.org/funds/black-trans-fund/

Project Open Arms - https://tractionpnw.org/open-arms/

Point of Pride - https://www.pointofpride.org/donate

The Okra Project - https://www.theokraproject.com/

Trans Resistance Network - https://transresistancenetwork.wordpress.com/

Mutual Aid NYC - https://mutualaid.nyc/mutual-aid-groups/

Collective Focus - https://collectivefocus.site/

“Oh it's fine, you’re dramatic.” 

“I don’t notice men ever.” 

“It’s such a crapshoot–some babies are very chill and some are not.”