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My brain has been fried. It is only half a pea. I have half a pea brain. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?? Work is good! And I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. I really, really do.

Queer as in F*ck You

The Van Dykes Project

Bills Restricting Abortion Rights, Trans Rights Are ‘Inextricably Linked,’ Advocates Say. Surprise surprise.

I won’t lie to you, my friend wrote this. And it is so, so good: In Defense of the Meaty Tuck by Tre’vell Anderson for Xtra

Saw This, Thought of You

1 in Every 500 US Residents Have Died of COVID-19

From Vanessa: “p sure this essay is going to ruin my life so maybe it could ruin yours too” On Baby Fever

This feels a little tied to the above, and I don’t usually recommend celebrity writing, but this piece from Gabrielle Union about surrogacy and mourning has eaten me alive and I can’t let it go. It’s my recommended reading for the day.

I like follow soccer in the vague sense that I think Megan Rapinoe is hot and also I watched the documentary LFG, so I’m 99% confident this is a big deal? But also I’ve seen no one talking about it, so I’m not completely sure. Will someone tell me in the comments? 👉🏾  US Soccer Says It Has Offered Men, Women Identical Contracts. “The U.S. Soccer Federation said it had offered identical contract proposals Tuesday to the players’ associations for the men’s and women’s national teams, and the governing body said it would refuse to agree to a deal in which World Cup prize money is not equalized.”

“Men’s Rights Asians” Think This Is Their Moment. “They became notorious for trying to harass Asian women off the internet. The racial trauma of the past year has only emboldened them.”

Political Snacks

This has been weighing on me heavily. What has happened to these gymnasts — there’s still just no excuse:

• Gymnasts Testify In Front of Congress, Blast The FBI’s Mishandling Of Their Allegations About Larry Nassar
•  ‘Not Ever Over’: Simone Biles, U.S. Gymnasts Castigate FBI Over Its Failures on Larry Nassar Case
•  Senators Applauded Nassar’s Victims for Being ‘Strong’ and ‘Brave.’ They Shouldn’t Have to Be. “Survivors need — deserve — action, not mindlessly regurgitated compliments.”

“”How much is a little girl worth?” If you have the time, watching Simone Biles’ testimony is well worth it.

❤️

We’ve been through so much together ❤️💔
Our friendship is so special because we’ve experienced some of the best moments together but also some of the toughest moments together. @MagsGotSwag12 @Simone_Biles @McKaylaMaroney you make me feel braver 🤍 pic.twitter.com/lNonQR5KRu

— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) September 16, 2021

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