[ID: an image of the Buggs bunny meme template. Against a black background, Buggs Bunny stands in formalwear just off center to the right. To his left, the text “I wish Elliot Page a very pleasant evening”. Elliot page serves as the filler text. End ID]
pride this year for me has been about using my new position of power within my community to force change and acceptance. even subtly. i wore my bi flag pin this week, i have never come out to any of my co workers, i didn’t feel the need to. But now that I’m elected and have solidified myself for years as a fixture in my community I’m forcing everybody that comes into my rural office to ask a service of me to interact with somebody wearing a pride pin. You want me to issue your marriage license? Your dog license? Notarize your documents? You’re getting a bisexual doing those services. Ordering new indexing cards for our birth, death, and marriage index i’ve made the switch to more gender neutral language and options because that’s something I can control and it’s wonderful.
I looked the gay man that came in scared of his neighbor in the eyes and there was a mutual understanding between us that we knew of each other and I assured him of his safety with me, he spoke in codes I was only familiar with from my days years ago in drag clubs in a less liberal area of the country. We understood each other. Yesterday, the first day of June, we hired not only a woman to an opening in a widely male dominated planning board, but an openly lesbian woman.
Vermont may be more welcoming to LBGTQ+ folks compared to many areas of the united states, but being open can still feel scary to many. Some of us still feel the need to speak in code in our widely left leaning, blue voting communities which is in part due to how past people in similar positions of power to me have acted towards them. But i can help change that, even if just a little. If you’re LGBTQ+ you are safe in my office and safe in my care.
cut it up - isozyme the untamed (cql), jin guangyao/lan xichen rated E, 6300 words
Jin Guangyao was Chief Cultivator, his enemies dead, his marriage unsavory but stable, Lanling’s borders peaceful. There was space for a little indulgence, provided he was delicate about it.
“You take such good care of me, A-Yao,” Lan Xichen breathed as the last of his hairpiece came free. “I don’t deserve someone so kind.”
“You deserve the world,” Jin Guangyao told him, which was the truth. He deserved A-Yao, not Jin Guangyao. Alas for Lan Xichen: Jin Guangyao loved him too much to ever, ever let go. So he gave Lan Xichen the best approximation of a lovable man he could imagine, and hoped that he could make the mask real enough to pass muster.
“If you insist on exaggerating, then I am glad the world includes you,” Lan Xichen said, and then twisted around to catch Jin Guangyao’s mouth in a kiss.
They kissed, gentle and slow like honey seeping through silk.
