Mastodawn

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶

I don't know how to say this in a way that will matter, or even get noticed, but I really need cishet people to understand something:

The people labelling LGBTQ+ folk groomers and pedophiles know it isn't true.

They aren't spreading false information accidentally. Their goal isn't to raise an alarm about something they think is a legitimate threat to children. Their goal is to vilify LGBTQ+ people to set us up as targets for violence, persecution, and death. They are fomenting hate deliberately, because they know how to harness it.

By positioning themselves as the leaders of a violent movement against a manufactured enemy, they gain credibility, exposure, and ultimately control over large parts of the American populace. By pretending to be the vanguard of a defense against predators, they become heroes within their movement.

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶

But at some point, if this continues, they will run out of LGBTQ+ people to target. They already are starting to run out of trans people and have begun expanding their rhetoric to include non-straight cis people as well. It won't stop there. They will keep finding new targets. This is the thin wedge of fascism that they hope will eventually topple, not just trans rights, but then gay rights, women's rights, and finally human rights.

They cannot be convinced they are wrong. They know they are wrong.

They don't care about truth. The only thing they care about is power.

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶

And the only thing that can stop them is direct opposition. This is not a difference of ideas or beliefs. This is not a debate. If you actually want to interrupt this power grab, you will not do so through dialogue, discourse, discussion, or protest. This is a fight. This is a dirty fight.

These people don't care about rules, or ethics, or morals. They do have a fairly simple ethical code, however. It's the same one fascists always adopt. That code is: if you are powerful enough to accomplish something, then you are right to do it. If you don't want that to be the foundational principle of our society, you're going to have to accept that This Is A Fight.

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶

I am not advocating violence. I am informing you, plainly, that the violence has already started. The oppressive, evil laws being passed at the state level all across the country are violence. The groomer and pedophile rhetoric is violence. The kidnapping of trans kids in Florida is violence.

People are dying. Innocent people just trying to exist.

Want to make a difference? The next time you run across someone pushing this agenda, punch them as hard as you can. The only way they lose is if it is too painful, too costly for them to exist in the public sphere. They won't stop lying until someone is willing to stop them. Get ready to defend, using every means at our disposal.

We are already at war. This is a battle flag.

JackieTechnoHippie Apr 23, 2023

@LadyDragonfly ✊ THESE QUEERS BASH BACK!✊ SOLIDARITY FOREVER

Mr. Mustache Apr 23, 2023

@Doom_Bunny @LadyDragonfly

JackieTechnoHippie Apr 24, 2023

@mstrmustache @LadyDragonfly I think the person who thought I wanted to take their guns was jumping to quite the conclusion, as I am a trained soldier. My point was not to limit yourself to them. We are a community of scientists and engineers, we are the weapons.

@LadyDragonfly The kidnapping of said children is literally #Genocide [§6 Section 1 Number 5 #VStGB] and the silence of @AuswaertigesAmt is so numbing that I hope affected ones will be able to flee and press charges in Germany as well as seek asylum.

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vstgb/__6.html

§ 6 VStGB - Einzelnorm

undead enby of the apocalypse Apr 23, 2023

@kkarhan @LadyDragonfly @AuswaertigesAmt they won’t listen. You think the same thing isn’t happening here? You think the german state is on our side? It never has, and never will be. And the same goes for all states.

@enby_of_the_apocalypse @LadyDragonfly @AuswaertigesAmt

Considering the big talks about "historical responsibility" it only seems fair to get that litmus test done.

@enby_of_the_apocalypse @LadyDragonfly

But then again what alternative do you propose?

Do some "Queer Nationalism" and try to get some "terra nullus" settled?!!???

I mean it'll be more expensive and unrealistic than literally bribing even a small nation so absurdly high that every politician would shit "purple bills" [€500 banknotes] constantly, but I'm genuinely interested in a real approach...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_nationalism

https://kolektiva.social/@enby_of_the_apocalypse/110250209565554596

Queer nationalism - Wikipedia

undead enby of the apocalypse Apr 23, 2023

@kkarhan @LadyDragonfly you know I’m an anarchist right

undead enby of the apocalypse Apr 23, 2023

@kkarhan @LadyDragonfly I don’t really have the time and energy rn to do anarchy 101

undead enby of the apocalypse Apr 23, 2023

@kkarhan @LadyDragonfly we keep us safe.

@enby_of_the_apocalypse @LadyDragonfly so what do you want to do?

Go full @TenaciousUnicornRanch ??

I can accept that - at least it would be consequent if you want to stand your ground.

But it doesn't change the fact that some people need to flee...

And establishing safe zones will be vital - regardless whereever those may be...

@enby_of_the_apocalypse @LadyDragonfly neither have I...

@enby_of_the_apocalypse @LadyDragonfly All I know is that there is demand for some actual solution.

Not some academic theory or some "lol just burn things down and naively believe things will be better afterwards, who cares if people die due to warlordism" anarchism that seems to be rather common...

undead enby of the apocalypse Apr 23, 2023

@LadyDragonfly @kkarhan this is wishful thinking.

undead enby of the apocalypse Apr 23, 2023

@kkarhan @LadyDragonfly @AuswaertigesAmt the litmus test has been done a long time ago and many times since then, I don’t think it will be different this time

@enby_of_the_apocalypse @LadyDragonfly @AuswaertigesAmt Well, you do realize that things shift and the current German Government Coalition did promise some #SelfID legislation...

And I think people do have the right to force the state to change for the betterment...

undead enby of the apocalypse Apr 23, 2023

@LadyDragonfly @AuswaertigesAmt @kkarhan believe me, I’m well aware. And have they fulfilled that promise? Look how they keep stalling. Look how now suddenly they bring up terf talking points.

I don’t think it’s possible to do that, since the problem is the state itself. Even in a state with all the queer rights we are not truly free since those rights can always be taken away, and since the state is a machine of violence, a prison. But if you think it is possible, then asking nicely isn’t the way to do that. Rights are concessions the state makes when it’s threatened. So either way the state is not our ally.

Steve Apr 24, 2023

@LadyDragonfly
I've seen it succinctly phrased as, "Punch a Nazi today, so we don't have to raise an army against them tomorrow."
Often accompanied by a vintage image of Superman punching a Nazi.

Obvious problems with punching Nazis include:
1. Punching Nazis in defense against verbal violence is, under the law, assault.
2. In the court of public opinion, punching Nazis is escalation that turns the victim of verbal violence into the perpetrator of physical violence.
3. Some Nazis are armed, and will respond to punches with gunfire. (That puts them on the wrong side of Problems 1 and 2, but puts you on the wrong end of a gun.)

It's best to escalate verbal violence with a megaphone. But punching Nazis definitely has its appeal.

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶

@Steve98052 you will not stop this with debate because this is not a debate. This is a fight. Nobody in history ever debated a Nazi out of the room.

Steve Apr 24, 2023

@LadyDragonfly
My point is that although we can't persuade Nazis to stop being Nazis, debate can accomplish change by persuading people who think they are not at risk because they are not in the groups that are target today.

The poem "First they came . . ." says it well. I'm a straight white cis man. The Nazis don't have me on their agenda. Yet.

But if I'm not an ally for the people who are they're targeting now, they'll move on to other targets. If I keep letting them attack others, I'll be a target eventually, as an atheist and not super-rich. And my friends who are higher on their list will lose their rights -- and sometimes lose their lives -- while I stand by.

Women in right wing states have already lost rights. And the Nazis aren't stopping there.

Turning the apathetic into allies is the way to stop Nazis -- much as it would feel good to just punch them.

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶

@Steve98052 and my point is that this is well past the point where this is a debate.

Cenbe Apr 24, 2023

@LadyDragonfly "I am not advocating violence... punch them as hard as you can."

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶

@cenbe Punching back against genocide is a moral good, actually.

Htaggert Apr 27, 2023

@LadyDragonfly I remember after the Trump election a very white lady stood in my office and attempted to get me to engage in conversation in regards to Trump and race. She was astounded when I said - leave now- I’m not in agreement with that- you are a racist. We dance around these things too much.