River Butcher! Bad allies! Dogs in hats!

Hey friends,

Every time I write “hope you’re hanging in there,” I momentarily reflect on the weird bullshit going on in the world in the last week. How is there always new weird bullshit? Has it always been this way? Anyway.

As promised, we kicked off the new podcast season on Monday by releasing our chat with River Butcher. I know a lot of y’all have been waiting on this one for a while, and I hope it lived up to your expectations!

I had a great time talking with River about the highs and lows of transitioning in public, including the Classic Transmasculine Question of “how do I come to terms with being a man when men and/or patriarchy have hurt me and my community?” Other topics include growing up androgynous; navigating weird body comments; and being a bi guy of dyke experience. (Plus, some hot gossip about Che Diaz.)

Photo ID: River sitting on the floor, surrounded by large potted plants. 

Next week on the show, we’re speaking with Edgar Gomez, author of the memoir High-Risk Homosexual. It was a super fun and maybe mildly chaotic interview, and I’m really excited for y’all to hear it.

Otherwise, everything’s the same as usual: merch is available through April 30 (I just got my shirt); grant applications are also open through the end of the month; I’m still working my way through all the mutual aid payments; and I also owe a bunch of y’all stickers that I will send someday, I promise! I’ve also been teaching a LOT and having a lot of thoughts and feelings about, among other things, the New York Times style guide.

Oh, also, I haven’t listened to this yet, but I’m on this week’s episode of Adult ISH talking about “how people trying to be allies can still cause harm,” which might be a useful resource for you or someone you know! (There's also a transcript for quick reference.) 

Here’s this week’s Links & Things:

• Monday was Tax Day, which means that I’ve been listening to Chris Fleming’s Sick Jan for a week straight. (My brain screams "We don't have to claim a home office" every morning when I wake up, and I'm a better person for it.)
• Caity Weaver is maybe my favorite journalist(?!), and she has a new piece on what happened when she tried to do #VanLife for a week.
• One brave soul took the time to thoughtfully and comprehensively explain what exactly is wrong with Jesse Singal(’s coverage of trans people).
• I spent a long time trying to figure out how to link an issue of the Latinx Files newsletter, but I don’t think I can? So instead, I recommend that you subscribe to the Latinx Files, which does not require a paid subscription to the LA Times. (You might need a subscription to read this related article from Suzy Exposito, which I used to get a bunch of new music recs.)
• Last but not least: a thread of dogs in fancy easter outfits!

That’s it for this week’s newsletter. Here’s your weekly Rhubarb, courtesy of my roommate as usual.

Photo ID: Ruby laying in a bed and looking away demurely.

Xo,
Yr resident gender detective