Story! Waiting Out the End of the World in Patty's Place Cafe

Waiting Out the End of the World in Patty's Place Cafe by Naomi Kritzer

I like how this story fits together. And the kindness of strangers. And hanging out with people who like you for who you are. Best of all I like Robin's rant about not needing to reconcile with one's parents.

Every time I make one of these posts about a story I liked, I realize more clearly that I want non-violent stories, stories about kindness, stories about how we can help each other hurt a little less.

via conuly

Allowed to have happy stories

Between the Coats: A Sensitivity Read Changed My Life by Sarah Gailey

I always thought I’d be dead by now, because I know the kind of story people like me are allowed to have. Short, and heartbreaking, and before too long: over.

[...]

Sarah, they asked with excruciating kindness, do you know that queer people are allowed to have happy stories?

This is kind of a continuation of my comment on the story link I just posted. When there's violence, we're not supposed to sympathize with the victims of it, but those of us who are marginalized in various ways subconsciously do. "This is what happens to people like you." I am trying to layer in new stories, new possibilities.

The essay also touches on how easy it is for someone's bisexuality to be invisible in a heterosexual relationship, and how the partner might find it more convenient for the bisexual person's queerness to be forgotten.

via supergee