utterly losing my mind that literally right as i was putting up our display for banned books week coming up in september, my boss got a call saying that the county higher ups have declared that we’re prohibited from saying “banned books” in association with any library programs or materials. “freedom to read” is okay apparently, but the phase “banned books” is, well, banned. if i tried to publish this scenario in a novel, my editor would probably send it back with a note saying that the irony is a bit too on the nose & that i need to tone it down a little. we have censored the discussion of censorship. i cannot handle how hilarious this is
So I went to read the Kids Online Safety Act, thinking that it couldn’t possibly be as bad as what people are making it out to be, I mean I’m a lawyer and expert in statutory interpretation, it can’t be that bad, right?
Oh no. KOSA IS that bad. It will literally eradicate queer people online.
The bill says that a “covered platform” - broadly defined as “anything on the internet a minor might use” which is literally the entire fucking internet- has a “duty” to protect minors from anything that might harm them, including “sexual exploitation” and other undefined terms
It also gives state attorneys general the ability to sue to enforce it.
So here’s exactly what’s gonna happen:
Wacko republicans, as they’ve been doing with increasing force this year and last, are going to sue any and every website in existence, saying that the mere existence of LGBT people online constitutes sexual abuse of minors. And websites are gonna be so afraid of not doing the most that they’ll just axe all LGBT everything.
This bill is BAD bad. I’m appalled that democrats are lining up behind what is clearly a republican Trojan horse to eradicate LGBT people from the entire internet.
And right now? Don’t trust courts to shoot this down. You might get lower courts who are reasonable and refuse to play ball with the “won’t somebody think of the children?!” argument but a) this’ll likely be taken to the SCOTUS, who absolutely cannot be trusted since they’re comfy with trafficking children and b) the Seven Mountain Prophecy is slowly but surely coming true because both gerrymandering and no one left of neo fash understands that power is built locally first. There’s a reason the Right has this much power and it’s bc they control a lot of local politics.
🚨🚨I MUST ASK ONCE AGAIN FOR THE FUTURE OF A FREE AND EQUAL INTERNET I AM BEGGING YOU TO SIGN THESE PETITIONS, DONATE, SHARE TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, THIS IS SERIOUSLY THE VERY LAST CHANCE!!!🚨🚨
I do not care how busy you are right now, I implore you to take 15 minutes and sign all of these petitions and spread awareness. Share these links absolutely everywhere, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Ao3. everywhere!!
Because if these bills pass:..
Say goodbye to fandoms…
Say goodbye to fanfiction/fanart…
Say goodbye to LGBTQIA+ safe spaces…
Say goodbye to private messaging…
Say goodbye to proper sexual health education (including info about safe and healthy abortions)…
At anyone reading this, I know you may be familiar with these already, but please help to spread the word where you can. I’ll be honest, I’m scared of what this can do. I know just seeing this can be stressful, but any of this becoming reality is far worse. We need to protect our online spaces.
If you live in the US or the UK, please at least sign and/or call. I’ll admit I’m just nervous typing this but we can’t ignore this, not when we know what can happen if they pass. We need to stay informed about these bills, so for my part I’ll be posting whenever I learn new information.
If you don’t live in the US or the UK, please spread the word because this can happen anywhere. Also if you want to spread the word about similar laws, feel free to tag.
Overall we need to stay vigilant. Thank you and please stay informed.
Houston school district to turn libraries into disciplinary centers
The largest school district in Texas announced its libraries will be eliminated and replaced with discipline centers in the new school year.
Houston independent school district announced earlier this summer that librarian and media-specialist positions in 28 schools will be eliminated as part of superintendent Mike Miles’s “new education system” initiative.
So it looks like Mile Miles is going to shorten the school-to-prison pipeline by making his schools into prisons. WTF! Give kids books and librarians and support. That’s what they need. Not “discipline centers”.
CHEERS TO GUY WALTON FOR “OUTING” THE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES
From the article:
Walton has devised his own criteria for named heatwaves in the US, based on duration and extremity, on a one to five scale similar to hurricanes. Heatwave Chevron is classed as a four and is “historic”, Walton said. The meteorologist said he has a list of 20 oil and gas companies – including Exxon and Shell – for upcoming heatwaves and will turn to coal companies if he runs out of names.
OUTSTANDING MOVE
Y'all know what to do. Use Walton’s naming system. Make it catch on.
I never want to hear conservatives go on about repressive censorship in China, North Korea, and Iran ever again
To be clear to those unfamiliar: these are the companies that libraries use to lend ebooks.
They are literally cutting off library access to minors.
If you are affected by this or other bans and restrictions in the United States, be aware that the Brooklyn Public Library is offering free digital library cards to anyone age 13-21 nationwide as part of their Books UnBanned initiative:
Medicare Advantage: major insurance companies act as middlemen and find ways to cut services for patients so they can keep a growing portion of government payments for themselves.
In nearly every state, once patients have opted for a Medicare Advantage plan, it’s almost impossible for them to return to traditional Medicare — essentially trapping them in the for-profit system.
And the government is tossing people off Medicaid in droves for bullshit reasons.
What we need: Medicare for All, which would expand the government insurance system to cover all Americans, was recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with a record number of cosponsors and a companion bill in the Senate.
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