Project updates! Darcelle XV! Reward or punishment?

Hey friends,

Hope you’re all hanging in there. I have been largely offline for the last week and a half, and returning to an inbox bursting with hundreds of unread newsletters has made me really question what I’m doing here. Is this weekly post a nice little reward for you, or is it perhaps a mild punishment? Should emails be illegal, generally? (Yes.)

Anyway! I’ve returned home and am trying to get back into the swing of things, so for my benefit as well as yours, here’s a quick update on all of our various spinoff projects:

Season 11: Ozzy and I are still very much in the research phase of planning our next season. This is a great time to suggest future guests!

Trans Day of Snack: As I’m putting together the plans for this year’s TDoS mutual aid campaign, I’ve been brainstorming ways that we can offer help beyond (and in addition to) financial aid. To that end: Have you seen any good resources for folks being impacted by anti-trans legislation? If so, could you send them my way?

We’ll most likely announce our mutual aid campaign on TDoS/TDoV, so stay tuned for that. You might even get a little bonus episode out of it, if I get my act together!

2nd annual patron survey: Coming soon! I have a few key questions in mind, but I also low-key love asking weird / fun / niche survey questions; so if you have a question you’d like to ask our listeners, please send it our way and we just might include it in the survey.

Fast & Furious zine thing: This is not technically a Gender Reveal project except for when I randomly decide that it is, but regardless, Niko and I are going through all of the zine submissions next week. I’m very very hyped to read them! (If you missed the deadline but still want to send something in, just get it in by this weekend and we’ll consider it probably.)

Undisclosed secret project: Can’t tell you much about this but I’m working on a big secret thing and it’s taking up so much time and I can’t tell you about it and it’s annoying but!!!! One day it will be out and you’ll understand why I was busy for so long. Maybe.

Merch: Our March collection is still merching along! Grab your Trans Day of Snack merch before the end of the month because we’re definitely not bringing that back anytime soon.

Photo: Trans Day of Having a Nice Snack mug (featuring little illustrations of figs, cheese, a knife, etc.)

Patreon rewards in the mail: lol I was like “ok as soon as the season is over I will have time to send out all these overdue patreon rewards” and now all of THIS (gestures upwards at previous 420 words of newsletter) is happening and I’m like lol, lmao. Anyway! I have all the materials (I think) and WILL be sending out physical patreon rewards to new patrons (and long-suffering $40+ members) before we start the next season, and I WILL send you your rewards even if you cancel your membership before then! So make sure your addresses are up-to-date and keep an eye out and it WILL HAPPEN I PROMISE.

One more thing: Although I am carefully medicated to never have a feeling, I am nevertheless feeling a lot about the passing of Darcelle XV. The world’s oldest working drag queen, Darcelle performed nightly at Portland’s Darcelle XV Showplace for more than 50 years(!!!!!!!!!!!!) until her death this week, at age 92. I know we all love to think we invented gender or queerness or whatever but some people have really BEEN OUT THERE through all of it. I encourage you to watch this documentary (free on YouTube). And, for a special time capsule treat, read this review of Darcelle’s club from 1975. (Please do not apply 2023 expectations of nuanced gender conversations to this article from 1975 or I’ll lose it.)

Photo: a screenshot of the Darcelle documentary that shows Darcelle in the back of a convertible in a parade, along with the caption "I don't think there will ever be another Darcelle."

OK, here’s more Links & Stuff:

• He has to help the pigeons
• Kai Cheng Thom has a new piece out about trans kids
• If you want to be very upset about abortion restrictions…
• I love this 100-year-old woman and her banned book quilt

And on a lighter note:

• I don’t know anything about hockey but the gay shark uniforms slap
• I didn’t finish this looong comedic piece on the Metaverse yet, but I screamed at “[Zuckerberg’s] curious IRL appearance — of a human designed by a computer or of a Styrofoam cup that a wizard decided to turn into a person but then changed his mind about halfway through—”
• I also screamed all the way through this Bear recap — one of Hola Papi’s finest ever works imo.

PHEW! That’s it for this week. Here’s your weekly Rhubarb. (She's actually staring at me like this right now and it's extremely intense.)

Photo: Ruby sitting and staring with huge wide eyes.

Xo,
Yr favorite gender detective

PS: Ruby says “-=[[[[[[p;;;;;foo…..,,,,,,”

PPS: Happy Yellowjackets Return and happy Loosey Goes Home day to all who celebrate!