I’ve lived in the same building for over 5 years, so you’d think I’d have figured out by now when to expect pride parades and other events organizing on my doorstep. But nope — catches me unawares every time.
Given the news out of Orlando this morning, though, I am finding my usual “cranky local folk” reaction transcended by a flood of love for this vibrant, defiant, resilient community I dance on the edges of.
We are #stillhere.
We are #stillqueer.
And in the face of slaughter, still we march beneath rainbows.
URGENT: In the wake of the largest mass murder attack in the US since 9/11, the city is in dire need of blood donations to treat the casualties (and, gods willing, to prevent the death count from rising above the 50 perished souls where it now stands). If you are in the Orlando area, here is a list of local blood donor centers and bloodmobile locations where you can give blood.
The crisis is so urgent, OneBlood has announced they will accept blood from any and all donors — including gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men — despite current Food and Drug Administration regulations that continue to discriminate against this population.
If you live in this area and are able to help, please please consider doing so.
Jeebus, but that picture looks like Walnut Street…is it?
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Good eye! Half block away on a cross street, actually.
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Wow. Some things never change. Dear ol’ Philly. I’m also guessing somewhere between Old City and 12th, based on the building types. When I lived there, no buildings could be taller than William Penn’s hat. Imagine that! Those were strange, silvan times.
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“View Out Alice’s Living Room Window, With Cat”
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Gorgeous. I’m a sucker for a blue and white cat. And helloooooo, William!
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I don’t know how we got here, and more importantly, I don’t know how we make it stop. Even if we banned assault weapons tomorrow, there are just too many already out there. That being said, we all feel better when we’re able to do something, anything, in response to a tragedy like this. So donating blood is a very tangible way to provide help. Heart breaking…
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Thank you for your comment, Jill — and I agree, having something tangible to do in response helps us all.
I usually post something lighthearted and silly on Mondays, an “inspiration” of sorts. After reading your comment and the one from Tish just below, I decided to dedicate this Monday’s post to a few such tangible ideas. I hope you and others may find them helpful or grounding, in the wake of this horror.
❤ alice
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Alice, while this sickens me to absolutely NO END, I am glad to see the public support and outpouring of love and pride in your community! Makes me resent this pathetically discriminatory and way too colorless place I rest my head for the time being…
Thanks as always for shining light on the issues that matter in this crazy online world our kids are growing up in… praying for everyone today, and for some inkling of what I can do to contribute to the change that is so obviously needed !!!
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Tish,
After reading your comment and the one from Jill just above, I decided to dedicate this Monday’s “inspiration” post — usually my silly, NSFW sight gag — to a few such tangible ideas of concrete things people can do to help. I hope you and others may find them helpful or grounding, in the wake of this horror.
❤ alice
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Thank you, Alice! =) =) Have already donated, signed, and am lining up volunteer opportunities. I am so sick and tired of all this SHITE that the only thing to do is things. =)
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Yes. We take a day to grieve — then we begin to do All The Things. ❤
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Blood is needed. Guts, too. Thanks.
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Yes. Quite.
Many of my friends are feeling overwhelmed with anger today, as well as grief. I think sometimes rage and grief and love are not such separate emotions. I think they may be three faces of the same thing: the ache for justice.
May we all find guts enough for that.
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Justice, and change. Was thinking yesterday about the “hope change” thing. We wanted it from our president. It has to come from us.
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True change always does.
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I reblogged this in case anybody who might be reading me can help.
We have got to get rid of the fucking guns.
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I agree with you by about 150 million percent. Thank you for sharing!
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Frankly, I’d rather I didn’t have to. :(.
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And here, my agreement is about 150 trillion %.
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Reblogged this on FiftyFourandAHalf and commented:
Blood is needed in Orlando because yet another guy had a gun. If anybody is reading this and can help, please do so!
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