Another great column from s.e.smith, who goes deep into the flock of starlings metaphor. The topic is the surge of people newly disabled by post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, better known as Long Covid. While disability elders can see this as a chance to mentor the newbies, it’s also a chance for us to see the world anew:
( 340 words )
https://catapult.co/stories/se-smith-year-in-review-long-covid-disability-chronic-illnessWisCon offers pronoun-preference stickers for our member name-badges. (Their use is completely optional.) I spent the long WisCon42 weekend in a space where physical appearance was disconnected from gender assumptions. One of the many things I love about the con is we dress exactly as our fancy takes us, from PJs to three-piece suits to tutus to ballgowns to geek fatigues1.
Protip: Don’t assume gender. Pause when someone raises their hand: many years of gender essentialism are imprinted in the lizard brain. Instead, refer to items displayed on the body2, for example “The person in the yellow shirt” or “You, with the flashy fingernails.”
( I share my experience of misgendering someone in hopes of educating other cis people )
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