This was my first time trying this new style. It was rather vulnerable but also fun & empowering. I'll be exploring this style some more, both with more self portraits and thru collaborative portraits of other Trans Folx.

I have a vision of having conversations with the Trans subject about the meaning of a very euphoric photo. What feelings and quotes come to mind. What challenges and affirmations. Then taking all of that and reflecting it all back to the subject with an affirmation art such as this.

(Left to right) Florencia the aloof Huntress, Lucas the gruff but beloved Blacksmith, Marjorie the Bard who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, & Milton the Cook who vomits at the sight of animal dung. This is our settlement's 2nd expedition (we don't talk about the disastrous 1st one). But this time we came prepared to camp out in style & comfort! :D

Had orchi with Dr. Hanna of the Hanna gender center in Dallas. He's awesome & does exclusively gender affirming surgeries of all flavors ^_^

Dr. Hanna of the Hanna gender center in Dallas, he's great

👉LINK TO COMMENT: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance#open-comment?

🤔WHAT’S HAPPENING?

A proposed federal rule will pressure ALL federally-funded organizations (schools, hospitals, libraries, researchers, nonprofits, public programs, ect.) to stop serving (or even recognizing the existence of) Trans Americans.

“The rule… aims to ‘ensure that Federal awards and subawards are not used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate’… ‘gender ideology.’” Source: Transitics, “New Trump Administration Rule Aims to Erase Trans People from Many Areas of Public Life”, Paragraph 2.

“In practical terms, this encompasses state & local governments, universities, K-12 schools, healthcare providers, research institutions, non-profit organizations, museums, public libraries, many private businesses, and more.” Source: Transitics, Paragraph 4.

🔎HOW DOES IT INTEND TO ERASE TRANS AMERICANS?

It means to scare institutions into denying Trans Americans’ participation in public life.

“If a federally funded high school mentions trans people in lessons… is that funding ‘facilitating’ ‘gender ideology’? How about if a federally-funded museum organizes a pride display? Or if a city flies a pride flag…? Or if a university funds research into gender-affirming care?” Source: Transitics, Paragraph 9.

“As a result, trans people will be erased from many areas. American research into trans healthcare may stop almost entirely. Many museums and libraries could drop any mention of trans people. City governments might stop celebrating pride and repeal nondiscrimination ordinances.” Source: Transitics, Paragraph 10.

💨THIS IS NOT ABOUT CHILDREN🪞

Project 2025’s creator has already said the adult ban is the goal. Any claim this is about "protecting children" is merely smoke and mirrors.

“Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts recently endorsed taking care away from transgender adults… His proposed solution? ‘You outlaw it.’” Source: The Advocate, “Project 2025 creator wants to ban gender-affirming care for trans adults”, Paragraph 2.

“We often work toward an ultimate goal via incremental steps — sometimes people will call us radical incrementalists. We’re willing to take a quarter of the enchilada if we can keep working there.” Source: The Advocate, Paragraph 11.

WHY CALL IT GENOCIDE?

Because genocide is not only mass killing. It can also be forced erasure: destroying a people’s ability to exist openly, safely, and publicly.

“The Lemkin Institute [for the Prevention of Genocide] believes that the United States is squarely within the early to middle stages of a genocidal process against trans people, the goal of which is to completely erase transgender people not only from public life but also from existence in the U.S. and globally.” Source: Lemkin Institute, “Red Flag Alert — Anti-Trans Genocide in the USA — #3”, Paragraph 2.

“Denial of identity involves two main steps: preventing people from openly expressing an identity and destroying institutions that reproduce the identity.” Source: Lemkin Institute, Paragraph 3.

🏳️‍⚧️TRANS PEOPLE ARE ALREADY IN DANGER

“Transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault.” Source: Williams Institute, “Transgender people over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime,” Paragraph 1.

💬WHAT DO I SAY?🤔

Copy this or write your own version. A short comment is better than no comment!

Example comments you could leave (make them your own before posting):

• Transgender people are our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow Americans. They deserve dignity, respect, and equal treatment under the law. I urge OMB to withdraw this proposed rule.
• I oppose OMB-2026-0034 because every American deserves equal access to federally funded education, healthcare, and public services, including transgender people. Please withdraw this rule.
• I oppose this rule because the government should not pressure schools, hospitals, libraries, and nonprofits to limit how they serve lawful members of their communities. Please reject this proposal.

⏰PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE DUE JULY 13!📥

Sources:

Transitics, “New Trump Administration Rule Aims to Erase Trans People from Many Areas of Public Life”, May 29, 2026. https://www.transiticsnews.com/p/new-trump-administration-rule-aims

Erin in The Morning, "’Fascism’—New Federal Rule Would Require Federal Funding Recipients To Deny Trans People Exist”, Jun. 8, 2026. https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/fascismnew-federal-rule-would-require

Lemkin Institute, “Red Flag Alert — Anti-Trans Genocide in the USA — #3”, Mar. 11, 2026. https://www.lemkininstitute.com/red-flag-alerts/red-flag-alert---anti-trans-genocide-in-the-usa---%233

The Advocate, “Project 2025 creator wants to ban gender-affirming care for trans adults”, Adamczeski, Feb. 19, 2026. https://www.advocate.com/politics/heritage-foundation-trans-care-adults

Williams Institute, “Transgender people over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime”, Mar. 23, 2021. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/ncvs-trans-press-release/

🛟WANT TO HELP OUT BEYOND JUST COMMENTING?

• 📝Write sample comments opposing OBM Rule📋2026-0034
• 🫂Share mental health & wellness resources/tips for Trans/Queer Americans during this difficult time
• I will edit this post to include any draft comments and resources shared

THANK Y'ALL! I KNOW TIMES ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW BUT WE WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS! TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, TALK WITH LOVED ONES, AND BE PART OF A COMMUNITY WHO LOVES AND ACCEPTS YOU (WITHER IN PERSON OR ONLINE) 🫶

Got the items replaced, luckily. How much of a Titanic nerd am I that this was my first reaction? 😝

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Image is a meme. The background are colors radiating out from the center: orange, yellow, salmon, and beige. Foreground is a close up of an ostrich's head, its mouth is open in apparent shock. Image caption is blocky, white, and all caps. Its reads: "ME SEEING MY ELECTRIC BILL. ELECTRIC PRICES UP 16% AND NEARLY 250 WIND POWER PROJECTS CANCELLED"

HANDOUT GOAL:

• Humanize Trans Texans as much as possible & show we're people too, not vermin that needs genociding
• Try to debunk common MAGA BS about Trans Folx
• Appeal to purported Christian Values/love of small government
• Emphasize voters are tired of anti-trans culture wars BS. They care about real issues like gas & groceries. Most Republicans that have made trans-hate their central campaign platform have lost their elections.
• Have references to further reading for the curious. I'm under no illusions that I'll be able to single-handedly prevent the almost-certain tidal wave of anti-trans state legislation that'll drown us next spring. I just want to be one small part of a much larger effort to convince the GOP that Trans Folx are just normal people & don't need to be eradicated by the state.

I'm under no illusions that I'll be able to single-handedly prevent the almost-certain tidal wave of anti-trans state legislation that'll engulf Trans Texans next spring (the next state legislative session). I just want to be one small part of a much larger effort to convince the GOP that Trans Folx are just normal people & don't need to be eradicated by the state.

climatepower.us/news/fact-check-trumps-investment-in-expensive-coal-power-will-spike-energy-costs-and-make-americans-sicker/