Dear Troublemakers, This is like the 5th time I’ve sat down to write you this newsletter. When I finish and hit send, I will likely go take a nap. This week was a lot and my body knows that to be true. She feels the weight and is in need of good care in the midst of it all. (PS so does yours).
I’m here in Texas. I’m making noise. And I am a CASA working with kids in foster care (a mandatory reporter) and I will never turn in a trans kid, their parents or any medical professionals who serve them.
While it seems as if the world is crashing down, I also have hope. I read about the teens at Central York High school in PA who held protests for almost a month because the high school had banned books predominantly by Black authors. They mentioned that they felt that "education was not indoctrination." They felt discomfited when history class glassed over what minorities contributed to this country and white washed our history. And they won!! The Board of Education reversed its decision. We just need to stand strong!
“I can’t fix the world, but I can join hands with those trying- even though it doesn’t feel like nearly enough.” Damn. Thank you for this. And for all that you share.
Gearing up for Sydney LBTQ+ Mardi Gras as a volunteer - next year in Sydney we are hosting The World Pride Human Rights Conference where it's clear bigger battles will be discussed. Supporting "Christian Churches for Afghanistan" a motley group of churches meeting with our federal govt and fighting to keep the focus on people starving in that country. Refusing to forget Yemen, or Ethiopa or Sudan. Not drowning in the big picture but, as Nadia Bolz Weber said in a recent sermon "we are all in the deep but we are not alone there". Knowing that the next big election here will be used as a battle ground for "culture wars" rather than focus on climate change etc. Putting my head out the window and letting rain fall on my face - it hasn't stopped raining here for a week and smiling in spite of. Opening my heart in spite of.it.all. 💜🙏💜🌈
Thank you for sharing this perspective! It is so helpful especially during times like these. Currently my good trouble is doing what I can to advocate for disabled people starting with my daughter. Asking questions that many people (including professionals who are supposed to help) seem to think are annoying and holding people accountable for causing harm. I won't stop trying to do the work of dismantling systems of oppression. I've lost friends who don't want to hear about it but I'm finding new ones who do. Thank you for allowing me to be part of a community of people who are changing themselves and changing our world. xoxo
As a hospital chaplain I affirm the individuals I see whatever their story. This week I was able to write and get published a story of one Transgender individual in a very conservative Lutheran publication. It was a simple story of treating this person as she was, a beautiful, precious human being. My boss stated I was walking a very fine line with the story, but didn't fall off. One tiny victory...
I live in the deep red Trumpland of West Texas. I’m often so angry and frustrated that I can hardly function. However, there’s a large, top tier university here, and we progressive academics, physicians, artists, activists, etc. are fighting like hell! I’m a sociologist doing pro-bono work helping local nonprofits build socially conscious community programs. My current and largest project is organizing West Texas’s first ever inclusive prom. Our beautiful, amazing, courageous queer kids deserve to have a special night where they feel safe and celebrated. We’re *just now* starting to organize, and haven’t booked a venue, raised funds, or anything else. I grieved, freaked out, and big time questioned this prom after Abbott’s letter was released, but today I hugged and kissed on my queer kids, heard funny stories about their queer friends, and was encouraged by my own queer friends to keep going because we all *need* this. I’m scared for our safety, for our ability to execute on these plans and promises, and for my lack of ability to respond with steadiness and moderation when the haters come after us. And they definitely will come after us. I know this is important, though, and I’ll never stop fighting or make apologies for doing what I fully know is right and good.
Getting ready to celebrate Black Joy at a virtual Black History Month party; recognizing the privilege and gift of being invited to witness this as a white ally. 💜
Sent another round of diapers/wipes/feminine products to people seeking asylum (mostly still waiting in Mexico because that mess is still happening), hosted a Faith & Film discussion over the movie 'Encanto' (delightful), debriefing what my 1st grader is learning for Black History month and that Ruby Bridges is the same age as her grandparents, but mostly just trying to keep my shit together while we prepare to move back home to Hawaii to help my dad care for my mom. So...lots of love and unclenched jaws to all of us. Appreciate you, Austin.
Self care is holy work. Take that nap. :) As Sister Outsider says, "Self-care is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." -audre lorde
It all feels like too much right now and I'm full of anxiety, but also hanging on to hope wherever I can find it - in the little moments like listening to my children giggling and being joyful. I'm holding space for the balance of seeing the good, but recognizing there is so much sadness in the world (and both of those things can be true). One thing I've been doing lately is volunteering to deliver meals to the Afghan refugee guests in our city. That has helped me feel as if I can make a positive difference for someone else by serving them, and I've really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing with us all, Austin.
Feb 27, 2022·edited Feb 27, 2022Liked by Austin Channing Brown
I am on the board of PFLAG here in our little town in WA. And while that doesn't directly help the kids in TX of FL or GA, it feels like a thing I can do to make sure there are safe places for LGBTQ people and for families in our community (I have a special soft spot for those who are on the path to acceptance, but are in process).
My good trouble is centered on abolishing white supremacy in my little corner of influence. My friend and I are going through Mennonite USA’s police abolition curriculum. I just joined a special project to identify white supremacy in an organization I’ve supported for years. And I’m having conversations with my kids about white supremacy and how it shows up in my life. Thanks for hosting this space to hold hands with each other in the dark.
This has to be the most beautiful comment section on the internet right now
I’m here in Texas. I’m making noise. And I am a CASA working with kids in foster care (a mandatory reporter) and I will never turn in a trans kid, their parents or any medical professionals who serve them.
While it seems as if the world is crashing down, I also have hope. I read about the teens at Central York High school in PA who held protests for almost a month because the high school had banned books predominantly by Black authors. They mentioned that they felt that "education was not indoctrination." They felt discomfited when history class glassed over what minorities contributed to this country and white washed our history. And they won!! The Board of Education reversed its decision. We just need to stand strong!
“I can’t fix the world, but I can join hands with those trying- even though it doesn’t feel like nearly enough.” Damn. Thank you for this. And for all that you share.
Gearing up for Sydney LBTQ+ Mardi Gras as a volunteer - next year in Sydney we are hosting The World Pride Human Rights Conference where it's clear bigger battles will be discussed. Supporting "Christian Churches for Afghanistan" a motley group of churches meeting with our federal govt and fighting to keep the focus on people starving in that country. Refusing to forget Yemen, or Ethiopa or Sudan. Not drowning in the big picture but, as Nadia Bolz Weber said in a recent sermon "we are all in the deep but we are not alone there". Knowing that the next big election here will be used as a battle ground for "culture wars" rather than focus on climate change etc. Putting my head out the window and letting rain fall on my face - it hasn't stopped raining here for a week and smiling in spite of. Opening my heart in spite of.it.all. 💜🙏💜🌈
Thank you for sharing this perspective! It is so helpful especially during times like these. Currently my good trouble is doing what I can to advocate for disabled people starting with my daughter. Asking questions that many people (including professionals who are supposed to help) seem to think are annoying and holding people accountable for causing harm. I won't stop trying to do the work of dismantling systems of oppression. I've lost friends who don't want to hear about it but I'm finding new ones who do. Thank you for allowing me to be part of a community of people who are changing themselves and changing our world. xoxo
Gathering my voter registration buddies here in Texas so we can help fight the crappy governor!
As a hospital chaplain I affirm the individuals I see whatever their story. This week I was able to write and get published a story of one Transgender individual in a very conservative Lutheran publication. It was a simple story of treating this person as she was, a beautiful, precious human being. My boss stated I was walking a very fine line with the story, but didn't fall off. One tiny victory...
I live in the deep red Trumpland of West Texas. I’m often so angry and frustrated that I can hardly function. However, there’s a large, top tier university here, and we progressive academics, physicians, artists, activists, etc. are fighting like hell! I’m a sociologist doing pro-bono work helping local nonprofits build socially conscious community programs. My current and largest project is organizing West Texas’s first ever inclusive prom. Our beautiful, amazing, courageous queer kids deserve to have a special night where they feel safe and celebrated. We’re *just now* starting to organize, and haven’t booked a venue, raised funds, or anything else. I grieved, freaked out, and big time questioned this prom after Abbott’s letter was released, but today I hugged and kissed on my queer kids, heard funny stories about their queer friends, and was encouraged by my own queer friends to keep going because we all *need* this. I’m scared for our safety, for our ability to execute on these plans and promises, and for my lack of ability to respond with steadiness and moderation when the haters come after us. And they definitely will come after us. I know this is important, though, and I’ll never stop fighting or make apologies for doing what I fully know is right and good.
Getting ready to celebrate Black Joy at a virtual Black History Month party; recognizing the privilege and gift of being invited to witness this as a white ally. 💜
Sent another round of diapers/wipes/feminine products to people seeking asylum (mostly still waiting in Mexico because that mess is still happening), hosted a Faith & Film discussion over the movie 'Encanto' (delightful), debriefing what my 1st grader is learning for Black History month and that Ruby Bridges is the same age as her grandparents, but mostly just trying to keep my shit together while we prepare to move back home to Hawaii to help my dad care for my mom. So...lots of love and unclenched jaws to all of us. Appreciate you, Austin.
Self care is holy work. Take that nap. :) As Sister Outsider says, "Self-care is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." -audre lorde
Unclenched; for the moment. Thank you
It all feels like too much right now and I'm full of anxiety, but also hanging on to hope wherever I can find it - in the little moments like listening to my children giggling and being joyful. I'm holding space for the balance of seeing the good, but recognizing there is so much sadness in the world (and both of those things can be true). One thing I've been doing lately is volunteering to deliver meals to the Afghan refugee guests in our city. That has helped me feel as if I can make a positive difference for someone else by serving them, and I've really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing with us all, Austin.
I am on the board of PFLAG here in our little town in WA. And while that doesn't directly help the kids in TX of FL or GA, it feels like a thing I can do to make sure there are safe places for LGBTQ people and for families in our community (I have a special soft spot for those who are on the path to acceptance, but are in process).
My good trouble is centered on abolishing white supremacy in my little corner of influence. My friend and I are going through Mennonite USA’s police abolition curriculum. I just joined a special project to identify white supremacy in an organization I’ve supported for years. And I’m having conversations with my kids about white supremacy and how it shows up in my life. Thanks for hosting this space to hold hands with each other in the dark.