I'm feeling like shit today, so reading Sylvia's portrait was quite a struggle. But oh my, was it cathartic at the same time.

We won't get rights by begging for them. We won't get any help from "normal" people whenever bigots abuse us, no matter how nice we are to them. The truth is that empathy is a rare good in this world, not even speaking about proper solidarity. Thus the only way forward is to fight. And we need to fight together, every single one of us. Sylvia and all the others are proof of that.

I was a radical, a revolutionist. I am still a revolutionist. I was proud to make the road and help change laws and what not. I was very proud of doing that and proud of what I'm still doing, no matter what it takes.

Very cute picture, I feel like queer people have always loved flared pants and chunky shoes

(I don't have anything of value to add to the chapter discussion)

An injury to one is an injury to all! When we allow ourselves to be split along lines of oppression, we always lose. But when we put forward a collective list of demands together, and fight to defend each other from attacks, we frequently win.

I think this quote best summarizes this chapter, and again, reinforces that pattern of attacking the common enemy of oppression along alliances and coalitions. Organization truly is the way to move onward, an organized, unified body can crush oppression. Great chapter, as always!

I also loved the portraits for this chapter. Sylvia's chapter was harsh, but unshakably brave. The appearancy of Huey P. Newton, recognizing queer folk as a revolutionary people, is a universal truth that Les is also making through the core of hir work, allying all of the forces that can be. Plus, Craig's portrait also left us with an amazing quote on what gender even is:

When you get right down to it, gender is performance, darling.

WEEK 6 THREAD IS HERE!!!

Let me know if I missed anyone!

Reading the portrait of Sylvia Rivera has reminded me how big the gap between how brave I think of myself and how brave I actually am. I keep getting humbled by the world which moves on and on, while I am unable to even come out to my parents or most of my friends. Meanwhile, here is a person who, in a much darker time was able to truly fight back.

It's important to remember that these demarcations do not depend on being able to clearly define any individual as lesbian or gay. These rough boundaries delineate the scope of opression; these are the perimeters of collective fight-back

Glad to see people recognise all those years back that class struggle (or gender struggle in this case) occurs between collectives with permeable soft (and even overlapping) boundaries. The liberal rot must be combated and we must adopt a tactical/strategic mindset.

If only we didn't have time relearn all these lessons over and over again while essentialists and ultras take up so much space on platforms.