#harmreduction

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Friend asked me on how to help her trans kid. I couldn't find a good guide for this, especially with states like Iowa stripping us of our rights.

I want to be clear that this should not be done without the child's input. Always, always trust the kid to understand and always give them the chance to participate. There are ways to adjust the language for the age of the child, and children often have creative ideas when given the chance to participate. The goal here is to give the child the tools to help them thrive, okay? Thanks for understanding.

So without further ado, here's steps on how to help trans kids navigate all of this.

1. Identify safe groups where the child can be themself. Remember, the child likely will have ideas on who to ask. So be sure to ask the child who they trust for this …

I recently went on a terrible vacation with someone I considered a friend, but had to leave early for my mental health. (I had driven too long, my hip hurt, vacation was too long, I didn't have any close-quarters conflict resolution skills left. We were headed for conflict and I felt unable to handle it at all constructively. Bailing seemed safest.)

Now he's gotten me kicked from my all- online support group, and it's left a huge hole in my day-to-day and strategies. There's two days until the US election, and I'm worried.

Does anyone know of a similar online safe space? Anglophone, trans-only or queer men only, supportive and inclusive, not afraid to discuss deep and intense emotions? Thank you.

There are so many refugees moving to that I encounter when they come to in search of a gender affirming care provider. Often they ask where they can find lgbtqia+ community and while I do hesitate, I invariably mention the queer bar (among other spaces). It feels counterintuitive to refer people to a bar - but through a lens it feels 100% the right move. There is nothing more toxic than isolation and stigma.

Just as winter weather has begun to set in, the state has conducted a sweep of a Cambridge encampment, once again displacing residents who were just beginning to recover from previous sweeps and a fire. The residents had little time to prepare for the sweep, and have lost nearly everything. As always, the state has chosen to neglect the people’s material needs, instead acting with cold brutality in service of gentrification and profit. We are attempting to provide material aid in a way that will help residents to stay warm, dry, and fed while they try to recover from this latest injustice. If you are in the Boston area and outraged by this violence, consider coming to visit our table at the @BostonAnarchistBookfair on Saturday 11/11 and Sunday 11/12 from 10am-5pm. We will be accepting material donations at our table! Warm clothing and blankets are highly requested. If you …