Chloe (she/her)

What We Lost When Condé Nast Unceremoniously Shuttered Teen Vogue This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...

if you want to know what happened to Teen Vogue yesterday, my work wife @allegrak.bsky.social — who ran our politics section for 6 years until this past June — said it all in this.

can't even pull out a favorite part til I sign my separation letter lol, just read the whole thing.

I would wager that @clppng.bsky.social’s horrorcore duology is essential Halloween listening. A mix of horror-tinged visions of the reality of street life, nightmarish soundscapes and even a few genuinely awesome filk songs about horror icons

I was with a panel of people who were all making good arguments about why AI will never replace this or that skill or job, so maybe we'll be okay, and I finally said to one teacher: "you can just say no. you don't have to use it. it steals from people and teaches no skills. it's not a good tool."

I wrote a little about some of the little details you might have missed in this video and why it hit me so hard as a trans person this morning:

www.burnsnotice.com/you-have-to-...

On Owing $93,605 in Student Loans; or, A Profession Built on Debt - ACRLog I don't know the right metaphor to make you understand how this much debt physically feels. What it actually feels like is a pressure on my chest and shoulders, but maybe that's not evocative enough. ...

An important discussion on MLIS debt by @violetbfox.bsky.social 📜 📚

Bookshelves, {Some} Banned Books, and {Lost} Books, Oh My!, a project from Mrs. Gall Help me give my students new books to choose from in my classroom library! For years, books have been banned or challenged because of different or unpopular ideas. It is so important that students ...

We only need $140 more to fully furnish our second classroom with a host of awesome new books: www.donorschoose.org/project/book...

huh.

see, this actually looks like it’s remarkably easy to do. weird that very nearly every other federal-level democrat can’t quite figure it out.

as ever, big fan of @katmabu.bsky.social

Trans healthcare bans are a part of HB 3944, HB 4016, HB 3838, SB 2296, HB 4213, HB 4779, HB 5342, HB 5304, and HB 5116. Provisions that end the legal recognition of trans people are part of HB 3838, HB 4552, and HB 5342. Sec 594 of HB 5342 is a prison ban that sees that no federal funding can be used to place an incarcerated person in a prison inconsistent with their "biological sex." Trans women should be housed in women's prisons regardless of surgical status, but there's not a carveout for women who have had bottom surgery— and having a vagina in men's gen pop may as well be a "here's who you rape" sign. There are SOCIAL transition bans as part of HB 5342 and HB 5304. A provision to ensure trans and queer foster kids can be taken in by homes where they'll be forced to endure conversion therapy and abuse is part of HB 5304. Bathroom bans are a part of HB 3838 and HB 5342. Despite House and Senate Democrats uniting as a bloc against transgender sports bans in January and February of this year (with the exception of the 4 notable and vocal House-D bigots), sports bans are a part of HB 3838, SB 2296, HB 5304, and HB 5342. Sections that even allow same-sex marriage discrimination appear in HB 4016, HB 4121, HB 4213, HB 4249, HB 4552, HB 4553, HB 5342, HB 4754, and HB 5304. Are you getting the picture?

House Bills 3838 - Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 3944 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 4016 - Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 4121 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 4213 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 4249 - Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 4552 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2026 4553 - Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 4754 - Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 4779 - National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 5116 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026 5304 - Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies 5342 - Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Senate Bill 2296 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

2. email your senators, too. contact: reps.fyi

you're a poster; you can do this.

there are too many moving pieces to speak to on a call. they need to know we're watching & trans folks don't have a lobbyist on the hill. add either of these into the body of your email. ALL OF THIS MUST BE FOUGHT. 🧵

Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm one of Senator [THEIR NAME]'s constituents. House Republicans are trying to insert a multiple articles of anti-trans legislation, including a full transgender healthcare funding ban, into the F-Y '26 budget. I'm calling to tell the Senator to stand up for trans Americans and vote NO on any bill with that language. This IS worth forcing a shutdown. [you can stop here at 0:20 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't] This care funding ban follows the map the G-O-P charted while attacking abortion. Democrats lost that fight by giving in to the G-O-P an inch at a time. Giving an inch at a time on trans care will devastate trans Americans and it'll get Democrats nothing in return but contempt. [you can stop here at 0:40 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't] Right now, the most popular Democrat in the U-S, [Zo-RAHN Mom-DA-nee], is campaigning on making trans healthcare cheaper and easier to access, and he's only got more good will because of it. [you can stop here at 0:50 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't] I'm asking the Senator to refuse to allow any anti-trans language including a healthcare ban in the F-Y '26 bill. Do not vote for any bill with that language. This IS worth forcing a shutdown. Standing with trans people is the right thing to do and it's politically smart. Voters and donors show up for Democrats who fight.

so: what do we need you to do? two things.

1.call your D/I senators. find contact info here: reps.fyi

what do we need you to say? try the call script below. adapt it; make it your own! there are bailout points written in, in case you get nervous. but please *call.* 🧵

Discrimination against trans people is bad—yes, even when it’s about gun control | Xtra Magazine Trump’s proposal to ban trans people from owning guns is yet another way for conservatives to regulate trans lives

For my @xtramagazine.com column this month, I wrote about the DOJ's threat to ban trans people from owning guns and how I unexpectedly found myself agreeing with the NRA for once. xtramagazine.com/power/politi...

For people in a state that is asking for a prescription, try a CVS MinuteClinic.

Some MinuteClinic’s are getting around restrictions by having nurses on site who will give you a prescription during a visit. They ask to confirm if you are high risk but don’t ask for proof.

Eternally impressed by @brimwats.com
So grateful to have some of my lived experience included in this research.
#critcat #critlib

This is Ms. Gaines’s intuition as an activist, too: If people accept the premise that transgender women do not belong in women’s sports, then they have conceded that transgender women are not fully, truly women. As she sees it, more sweeping restrictions of transgender people flow from there, including the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that states can ban gender-affirming care for minors and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s change of its eligibility rules to bar transgender women from competing in Olympic women’s sports. “The gender ideology movement is a house of cards, and I believe it’s lying on that sports issue,” she said. “This will be the card that makes all of it crumble.”

This from Riley Gaines is why trans people freak out when Democrats try to carve out some compromise over sports. The politicians and activists attacking trans people are not interested in compromise! They're interested in our eradication from public life and are exploiting sports to that end

Feedback Survey about Form Subdivision ($v) Omission from Subject Headings The Library of Congress announced in January 2025 that as part of a linked data-friendly “Modern MARC” cataloging practice, they will no longer include form/genre subdivisions (e.g., 600 $v, 650 $v, 6...

ALA Core Subject Analysis Committee Working Group on $v Retention invites participation in a survey investigating potential impacts of the Library of Congress' omission of form subdivisions ($v) in subject headings. Please share!
tinyurl.com/2792hbkn
#critcat #critlib

We talk a lot about the black box problem in AI and not enough about AI as censorship.

Actually, Slavery Was Very Bad The president’s latest criticism of museums is a thinly veiled attempt to erase Black history.

a thought i have reading @clintsmithiii.bsky.social’s wonderful piece is that one reason the administration wants to erase any mention of the worst of our past is because it is intent on recapitulating those atrocities www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

IL State Uni. is hiring a metadata specialist; lowish pay, so it's ideal for someone without a MLIS bc it's civil service and they're eligible for a waiver at any IL uni. So applicant can get an UIUC MLIS for considerably less tuition while getting exp:
jobsearch.illinoisstate.edu/en-us/job/52... 📜📚

Donate to Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant, organized by Ysabel Gerrard Hello all, my name is Ysabel and I’m fundraising for my friends … Ysabel Gerrard needs your support for Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant

I’ve posted an update on Fobazi. Thank you all so much for all of the love and support! ❤️❤️❤️ -Elena

Update here:
gofund.me/506f89f9

unfortunately not surprised at white cis gay men selling out more marginalized members of the queer community. but always disappointing.

Donate to Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant, organized by Ysabel Gerrard Hello all, my name is Ysabel and I’m fundraising for my friends … Ysabel Gerrard needs your support for Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant

Fobazi is currently in the ICU and could use your support. Apologies to those I haven’t been able to reach out to yet. You can message me for more info and I will be posting updates to GoFundMe. Please share, send healing thoughts, prayers, etc. ❤️ -Elena

gofund.me/c8485b58

Donate to Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant, organized by Ysabel Gerrard Hello all, my name is Ysabel and I’m fundraising for my friends … Ysabel Gerrard needs your support for Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant

"Fobazi is fighting for her life right now. She's facing a kidney and liver transplant, and the costs are mounting. Please consider donating or sharing to help cover her expenses. Every bit helps."

Here’s the link:
gofund.me/5b8edbde .

are you so over wildfire smoke? allergies? this getting covid repeatedly thing? protect yourself with filtered air!
•Bonafide Masks
•WellBefore
•Dräger
•BeHealthy
•Laianzhi
•BNX
•3M
•MaskC
•CambridgeMask
*buying directly from distributors (some use amazon)=best way to avoid less than quality product

Opinion | This Israeli Government Is a Danger to Jews Everywhere The price will be high if people don’t resist Netanyahu’s ugly, nihilistic Gaza policy.

I'm so glad Thomas Friedman is using his platform to say this. I've heard this exact thing many times from my Jewish friends. Israel's actions are putting the Jewish diaspora in danger.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/o...

happy pride! reminder: queer people— especially trans, nonbinary, and bisexual people— have a far higher chance of developing disabling symptoms from SARS2 infection. like our queer ancestors before us, true pride is in community care, including preventing viral infection.

ventilate, purify, mask 🏳️‍🌈

Highlight of my presentation on #QMDC at #arlisna2025 was my beautiful son, Booker T. Cat, interrupting during the Q+A
@arlisna.bsky.social #critcat

Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, recently used my second-place finish in the 1,600-meter run, and that of my teammate in the 800-meter run, to malign Soren Stark-Chessa, the trans-identified athlete who finished first. One of the reasons I chose to run cross-country and track is the community: Teammates cheering each other on, athletes from different schools coming together, and the fact that personal improvement is valued as much as, if not more than, the place we finish. Last Friday, I ran the fastest 1,600-meter race I have ever run in middle school or high school track and earned varsity status by my school’s standards. I am extremely proud of the effort I put into the race and the time that I achieved. The fact that someone else finished in front of me didn’t diminish the happiness I felt after finishing that race. I don’t feel like first place was taken from me. Instead, I feel like a happy day was turned ugly by a bully who is using children to make political points. We are all just kids trying to make our way through high school. Participating in sports is the highlight of high school for some kids. No one was harmed by Soren’s participation in the girls’ track meet, but we are all harmed by the hateful rhetoric of bullies, like Rep. Libby, who want to take sports away from some kids just because of who they are. Anelise Feldman Freshman, Yarmouth High School Yarmouth

this is a letter to the editor from a high school track runner who came in second to a trans girl in a race. her state house rep in maine started talking about it. so she wrote this: www.pressherald.com/2025/05/14/r...

What Is The Library of Congress and What Does the Librarian of Congress Do?: Book Censorship News, May 16, 2025 A primer on what the Library of Congress is and what the Librarian of Congress does and oversees. Why is this such an appealing target for the current administration? That, plus this week's book censo...

"In addition to being able to continue purging historic records related to the history + achievements by [marginalized communities, this attack on the LoC is] a prime opportunity to redact, revise, + plunder the record in service of the administration’s America 250 propaganda campaign."

So excited to share about Queer Metadata Collective in this conversation!
#QMDC #critcat