Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
@knownforms.bsky.social
She/her, they/them. Writer, Researcher. Work in Strange Horizons, Tin House, Electric Lit, and more. I used to do research for Roxane Gay.
Pinned
The Price: A Queer Daughter of a Queer Mother - Electric Literature
I am doomed to die an ugly death or at least to be separated from my partner, probably violently. So is my queer mother and my partner and my cousin and many of my friends. We are all doomed, it seems...
electricliterature.com
I wrote this and it's still true but also, I've since gone no contact because she's toxic and have been writing a response ever since electricliterature.com/the-price-a-...
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
I’m also kind of surprised that anyone would expect Arundhati Roy, of all people, to take an ‘apolitical’ stance on…anything
I love Arundhati Roy's courage, integrity, intelligence, and her artistry as a writer of fiction & nonfiction.
Wim Wenders, the jury chair, on being questioned about Gaza, said filmmakers have to stay out of politics. Roy said a genocide demands a response from everyone, artists included. I agree.
Wim Wenders, the jury chair, on being questioned about Gaza, said filmmakers have to stay out of politics. Roy said a genocide demands a response from everyone, artists included. I agree.
Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment
Author says she is ‘disgusted’ by claim from jury president Wim Wenders that film-makers should remain apolitical
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:35 AM
I’m also kind of surprised that anyone would expect Arundhati Roy, of all people, to take an ‘apolitical’ stance on…anything
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
We devoted three episodes of the Into the Mix podcast to this issue, and I’ll never forget reporting for it. The people here are so full of life, and their unnatural deaths are so normalized.
“All a Black neighborhood gets from a plant is death.”
Black residents of St. James Parish in southern Louisiana dubbed “Cancer Alley” hope their lawsuit can be a blueprint for other communities fighting toxic pollution in their backyards, ray levy uyeda reports.
Black residents of St. James Parish in southern Louisiana dubbed “Cancer Alley” hope their lawsuit can be a blueprint for other communities fighting toxic pollution in their backyards, ray levy uyeda reports.
Judge advances Black residents’ lawsuit against Louisiana parish
Organizations allege that St. James Parish has discriminated against Black residents by allowing chemical facilities in “Cancer Alley”
prismreports.org
February 13, 2026 at 7:53 PM
We devoted three episodes of the Into the Mix podcast to this issue, and I’ll never forget reporting for it. The people here are so full of life, and their unnatural deaths are so normalized.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
let's stay together
February 14, 2026 at 1:06 AM
let's stay together
OM just watched a Daily Show ad in which John Stewart makes shitty jokes about the Epstein files. The problem with these comedy news shows is that SOME THINGS ARE NOT FUNNY STFU ASSHOLE. YOU ARE LAUGHING AT VICTIMS.
February 14, 2026 at 1:42 AM
OM just watched a Daily Show ad in which John Stewart makes shitty jokes about the Epstein files. The problem with these comedy news shows is that SOME THINGS ARE NOT FUNNY STFU ASSHOLE. YOU ARE LAUGHING AT VICTIMS.
*taps sign* Another block in the wall.
If you come for people who oppose Newsom (bc he's a transphobic, fascist, bootlicker), its a block. Sorry, I do make the rules.
February 14, 2026 at 1:37 AM
*taps sign* Another block in the wall.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
President Donald Trump's administration cannot rescind $600 million in public health grants allocated to four Democratic-led states, for now, a federal judge in Illinois ruled Thursday. https://to.pbs.org/4qFQq4O
Judge temporarily blocks HHS from rescinding public health grants in 4 Democratic-led states
President Donald Trump's administration cannot rescind $600 million in public health grants allocated to four Democratic-led states, for now, a federal judge in Illinois ruled Thursday.
www.pbs.org
February 14, 2026 at 1:33 AM
President Donald Trump's administration cannot rescind $600 million in public health grants allocated to four Democratic-led states, for now, a federal judge in Illinois ruled Thursday. https://to.pbs.org/4qFQq4O
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
I’m glad to see @channel4news.bsky.social addressing this. It’s been bothering me because, basically, the DOJ is continuing to lie about the Jeffrey Epstein matter:
“The information released could amount to just 2% of the information that the FBI retrieved from his homes.”
JUST TWO PERCENT.
“The information released could amount to just 2% of the information that the FBI retrieved from his homes.”
JUST TWO PERCENT.
In today's Your Week In 4, analysis by Channel 4 News has identified emails in the latest Epstein files that suggest the information released could amount to just 2% of the information that the FBI retrieved from his homes.
📩 Read the full newsletter: channel4news.substack.com/p/missing-ep...
📩 Read the full newsletter: channel4news.substack.com/p/missing-ep...
Missing Epstein files | Andrew scandal | Cuba blockade | Social media harms
Your Week In 4: Hand-picked insightful, inspiring and compelling reports from Channel 4 News this week.
channel4news.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:29 AM
I’m glad to see @channel4news.bsky.social addressing this. It’s been bothering me because, basically, the DOJ is continuing to lie about the Jeffrey Epstein matter:
“The information released could amount to just 2% of the information that the FBI retrieved from his homes.”
JUST TWO PERCENT.
“The information released could amount to just 2% of the information that the FBI retrieved from his homes.”
JUST TWO PERCENT.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Earlier this week, a photo of a woman in a bathrobe filming ICE operations in St. Paul, Minnesota, went a little viral. That person was @mprnews.org reporter Sam Stroozas, who left her house without changing out of a sense of duty and urgency. The network leaned into it. More:
Meet Minnesota Bathrobe Lady Sam Stroozas of MPR News | Minnesota Public Radio
Earlier this week, an unexpected and fast-moving incident unfolded in St. Paul, Minnesota involving both federal and local law enforcement. As crowds gathered and questions mounted, one of our MPR New...
www.mpr.org
February 13, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Earlier this week, a photo of a woman in a bathrobe filming ICE operations in St. Paul, Minnesota, went a little viral. That person was @mprnews.org reporter Sam Stroozas, who left her house without changing out of a sense of duty and urgency. The network leaned into it. More:
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
CURLING BEEF! CURLING BEEF! CURLING BEEF! CURLING BEEF!
(I never post Olympic videos bc the IOC will hunt you down but I am taking that risk so that you can hear the Canadian curling cursing)
(I never post Olympic videos bc the IOC will hunt you down but I am taking that risk so that you can hear the Canadian curling cursing)
February 13, 2026 at 9:44 PM
CURLING BEEF! CURLING BEEF! CURLING BEEF! CURLING BEEF!
(I never post Olympic videos bc the IOC will hunt you down but I am taking that risk so that you can hear the Canadian curling cursing)
(I never post Olympic videos bc the IOC will hunt you down but I am taking that risk so that you can hear the Canadian curling cursing)
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
This is so humane and affirming of people's dignity. When I needed the food bank years ago it wasn't this way, and I'm so happy to see this happening here now. #YQR #Sask
In Regina the food bank has a grocery store. You can shop for what you need & want like a grocery store within a certain budget. www.goodnewsnetwork.org/canadas-1st-...
Canada’s First Grocery Store Where Food is FREE Opens in Saskatchewan
The Regina Food Bank doesn't just support the unhoused or others in dire need; 18% of its clients work full-time, and many schools rely on it
www.goodnewsnetwork.org
February 13, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Free reaction shot you can use
February 14, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Free reaction shot you can use
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
What the young person in the brown sweatshirt recognizes is that some views are, in and of themselves, violent. Such as the support of a secret police that kidnaps, murders, and tortures.
there’s a longer version here in which our hero follows up by telling him “you can go peacefully fuck yourself” after he claims to be “peacefully standing for my beliefs”
Context:
February 14, 2026 at 12:05 AM
What the young person in the brown sweatshirt recognizes is that some views are, in and of themselves, violent. Such as the support of a secret police that kidnaps, murders, and tortures.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Sorry that Red Bamboo—owned and operated by a queer Asian American woman, Jade Wong—is closing after 24 years. Located in the Village at 140 W 4th St, down the street from the W 4th St subway station and near Washington Square Park, Red Bamboo served Asian-fusion vegan comfort food. #PlantBased #NYC
Long-running NYC vegan restaurant Red Bamboo is closing www.brooklynvegan.com/long-running...
February 14, 2026 at 1:22 AM
Sorry that Red Bamboo—owned and operated by a queer Asian American woman, Jade Wong—is closing after 24 years. Located in the Village at 140 W 4th St, down the street from the W 4th St subway station and near Washington Square Park, Red Bamboo served Asian-fusion vegan comfort food. #PlantBased #NYC
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
If I preemptively agree to vote for someone who does not have my best interests in mind, I'm sacrificing all my power to encourage him to be better.
February 14, 2026 at 1:18 AM
If I preemptively agree to vote for someone who does not have my best interests in mind, I'm sacrificing all my power to encourage him to be better.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Always punch nazis.
February 14, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Always punch nazis.
Again, these are not funding "cuts." Trump is literally stealing our tax $$. From the most vulnerable.
February 14, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Again, these are not funding "cuts." Trump is literally stealing our tax $$. From the most vulnerable.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Someone in whistle chat called people saying “I love your work, but I just thought of this other, different work you should be doing too” idea fairies and it’s so accurate. Don’t be an idea fairy unless you’re also going to be the project planning and volunteer coordination fairy.
a wonder, how many people will say “look at everything you’re doing, amazing! can you also do this totally different thing, for free, which I am getting paid to do?”
February 13, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Someone in whistle chat called people saying “I love your work, but I just thought of this other, different work you should be doing too” idea fairies and it’s so accurate. Don’t be an idea fairy unless you’re also going to be the project planning and volunteer coordination fairy.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
I don’t know what this is called but I’m pretty sure it’s the cure for male loneliness
February 14, 2026 at 12:19 AM
I don’t know what this is called but I’m pretty sure it’s the cure for male loneliness
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
RFK Jr. snorted cocaine off the toilet seat the right way.
by Ezra Klein
by Ezra Klein
February 13, 2026 at 11:43 PM
RFK Jr. snorted cocaine off the toilet seat the right way.
by Ezra Klein
by Ezra Klein
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Hold on. These fuckers sat quiet for weeks while the state was being terrorized, then they put out the most two sided statement possible, now they want to throw a party and act like the hero’s for throwing the party?!? Fuck that shit.
oh FFS, maybe get them to throw some of that money into rent funds instead of a zip line
February 13, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Hold on. These fuckers sat quiet for weeks while the state was being terrorized, then they put out the most two sided statement possible, now they want to throw a party and act like the hero’s for throwing the party?!? Fuck that shit.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
A prominent healthcare advocacy group is calling for Robert F Kennedy Jr, to step down from his post after he downplayed Covid risks by saying: “I’m not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.”
The president of Protect Our Care replied with one word: "Resign."
No pay wall.
The president of Protect Our Care replied with one word: "Resign."
No pay wall.
Healthcare group urges RFK Jr to resign after remarks on cocaine and toilet seats
President of Protect Our Care issues one-word statement to US health and human services secretary: ‘Resign’
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2026 at 12:36 AM
A prominent healthcare advocacy group is calling for Robert F Kennedy Jr, to step down from his post after he downplayed Covid risks by saying: “I’m not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.”
The president of Protect Our Care replied with one word: "Resign."
No pay wall.
The president of Protect Our Care replied with one word: "Resign."
No pay wall.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
We didn't get Mamdani in NYC by giving the fuck up. We got him because he demanded what people wanted and a bunch of different groups on the left learned from previous fuck ups and united behind him and millions of people said "Huh! We actually CAN do better?" And we fucken did.
February 13, 2026 at 5:17 AM
We didn't get Mamdani in NYC by giving the fuck up. We got him because he demanded what people wanted and a bunch of different groups on the left learned from previous fuck ups and united behind him and millions of people said "Huh! We actually CAN do better?" And we fucken did.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Minneapolis sign game is strong and weird.
February 14, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Minneapolis sign game is strong and weird.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
So infuriating.
DOGE allegedly used ChatGPT to identify 1,400 NEH grants it said were DEI. Grants were terminated April 2025, according to a court filing. E.g.
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
ChatGPT cuts in action
www.politico.com
February 14, 2026 at 12:36 AM
So infuriating.
Reposted by Mel🏳️🌈 she/they universal healthcare now
Reminder that I also sell #knitting patterns for $7 each and they require no shipping! ko-fi.com/crippledcomm...
#BSNM #KnitSky #FiberArts #ShopSmall #DisabledArtist
#BSNM #KnitSky #FiberArts #ShopSmall #DisabledArtist
January 13, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Reminder that I also sell #knitting patterns for $7 each and they require no shipping! ko-fi.com/crippledcomm...
#BSNM #KnitSky #FiberArts #ShopSmall #DisabledArtist
#BSNM #KnitSky #FiberArts #ShopSmall #DisabledArtist