So I was texting my gf and today I learned that my phone autocorrects ‘yay’ to ‘gay’ and it brings me great joy to know this.

PSA FOR TRANS GUYS AND QUEER PEOPLE WHO WEAR CHEST BINDERS

Summer is fucking brutal in a lot of places, which means we need to be extra careful. As you’re enjoying the season, please remember:

• Don’t wear your binder for more than 8 hours at a time!
  
• Drink ALL THE WATER. The compression against your chest will make you exponentially more fatigued and light-headed if you become dehydrated.
• Don’t wear you binder any longer than you need to. Whenever you’re relaxing at home, it’s best to wear a light t-shirt and no binder so your body has a chance to relax. It will get hella sweaty under your binder in hot weather, so take every chance you get to let your body breathe.
• Be conscious of your posture; being hunched over will cause more pressure and sweating on your chest, which can cause dizziness.

I started thinking about how a lot of cishets and even other people in the GLBTQ+ community often say things like “those aren’t even real terms oh my gosh this is just fucking ridiculous” and I used to agree at times but you know what? We have language for a reason- we give everything a word because we need to be able to classify things and explain concepts with words.

Every single day, scientists are making up new labels for species, medications, viruses, and so on. Why are you not bitching about that, saying “those are ridiculous those aren’t even real terms what the fuck scientists”. 

Because you recognize that we live in a world where it’s important to be able to describe and classify things! So yes, we make up new words all the time, because that’s how language works. We take old words, and mold them into new words to classify concept that have existed all along, but are now discovered, acknowledged, and need a name.

So before you start whining over terms like “polysexual”, “genderfluid”, and things of the like, open an encyclopedia and see if species names tick you off. If they don’t, guess what? You’re a queerphobe! Congrats on being an absolute asshole. 

Always stand up for queer youth who feel like they aren’t allowed to know who they are just because they’re young.

Always stand up for queer youth who aren’t given the resources or support to explore their identity.

Always stand up for queer youth who are forced to live with a family that cuts down and belittles and despises their identity.

Always stand up for queer youth who don’t feel safe where they are because of their gender/sexuality.

Always stand up for queer youth.

Always.